Monthly Figure Carving Challenge

[ClayB]

I have decided that instead of another contest that isn't really a contest (no judging, no winners etc.) I am going to propose a monthly carving challenge. I will pick a pattern and post it here. Anyone interested in participating can take that pattern and carve it in any way they like. You can change the pattern if there is something you don't like. You can add background if you like. Then carve it however you like. Remember, there is NO one correct way to carve these patterns. Once you have it carved, we'd would like you to post a picture of it. When the pictures are posted, critique, comments, questions are all encouraged. If you like something about how someone carved thier pattern, let them know. If there is something you don't like, let us know why. If you have questions about why someone did this, why they didn't do that, what if you tried this, just ask. I think by discussing the different projects, we can all learn something new. I am sure some people are going to think that some of these patterns are going to be too hard. I would like to encourage you to try them anyway. Bruce Johnson has mentioned doing things "outside your comfort zone". I think you have to do that if you want to improve and there will be people here that will help with any problems you have. I will try and vary the subject matter and difficulty of the patterns each month. I have several figure carving patterns right now, but hope to have a floral pattern to do this with soon. If there is interest, I'd like to do one of each every month.

The pattern for this first challenge was given to us by Tina. She posted a picture of her "Lioness with PMS" a week or so ago. I really liked this pattern because I could see so many different ways it could be carved. She agreed to let us use this pattern and I'd like to thank her for that. I hope some of you will give this pattern a try and share your carving with us.

Here is Tina's picture of how she first carved her lion.

And here is my first attempt at the pattern.

I hope we can have some fun and learn something from this.

[SCOUTER]

Clay, OUTSTANDING! Great concept! Thanks for "doing the legwork" on this. You are 100% right... We don't get any better doing things we are already good at!

Looking forward to starting this one.

Thanks again!

P.S. Flowers are harder then they look!

Edited January 26, 2008 by SCOUTER

[TwinOaks]

AAAAAHHHH!! Homework!!!!!! Run!!!!!!

Actually, it's an excellent idea. It gives us opportunity to develop new skills, and we don't have to worry about the copyright on the pic, as permission is implied when it's submitted.

Or is this just a clever ruse to identify your competition....? LOL!

Looking forward to this carving....as soon as I can get a printer that works.....and I recarve the piece I destroyed with a drop of Feibings' med. brown.

[yaklady]

Clay, as you know, I am pretty much computer illiterate. I have no idea how to print this pattern from this site. Can you give me a little insite on this? Please!

Kathy

[Johanna]

Press control and p for the print command. Clay, would it help if I converted the pattern to another format, like a pdf?

Johanna

[ClayB]

Johanna,

You are asking me if is would help to convert a file? The cold there in Ohio must REALLY be affecting you! Do whatever will make things easier for everyone, that's your job, LOL (the smileys dont seem to be working or I'd insert an appropriate one here)

[Regis]

Kathy,

After you click on the picture (actually any picture) and see it larger, just right click your mouse and a print option will appear. Select print an you're good to go. Of course, this is with MS Windows as I don'tr know about mac's.

[Froghunter]

Wow, what a great idea.....I'm in!

Here is my contribution to this months non-contest.

I had a few extra minutes after carving so I added a little color. I know this was originally a lioness, but I saw a cougar in mine, hence the black area around the muzzle.

I enjoyed this one, it was my first real stab at a realistic animal, at least a real one! I hope I did the original justice.

Lemme know what you think!

[Tina]

Froghunter...This is so cool:-)

It's going to get really interesting to see how different this one can be from the same base. I painted mine, but kept her as a lioness.

[ClayB]

The colored pictures of the lion by Tina and Froghunter are great. I am not going to attempt to color mine. I did decide to try and make mine 3-D. Not sure if I am done yet, but here is where it's at right now.