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I was just about to make a fine detail cut with a tool I have not used in a while. I had second thoughts. What if this tool is not perfectly sharp? The cut will be cross grain and a dull tool would tear the wood fibers requiring me to re-carve the entire surrounding area. The point is, be sure you have a scrap piece of wood you can test your tools on first. It turns out that the tool was sharp, but I'm still glad I checked first. Do you ever test your tools before making a cut?

We are at the stage where a lot of work is being done, but it may be difficult to tell from the photos. A good deal has been done forming the back. The base, book and feet have been shaped up.

Here are a some photos showing the further refining of the major forms of the St. Ignatius carving. I am intentionally leaving extra wood around the extended hand to provide strength while working on the rest of the carving.

Here are some progressive photos of the rough out stage of the St. Ignatius carving. This is the very important stage of establishing the major forms and proportions. At this point you should start to recognize what design in the wood. Can you see it?

Please note that I have moved the blog to a new address at blog.texaswoodcarving.com . Please check there for future posts. You can also get to the new blog via my website at www.texaswoodcarving.com or www.msdesigns.net . What do you think? Do you like the new address, or did you prefer it where it was? 

A little while ago I posted " Why Do You Carve? Part 1 - Relaxation ".  (you remember this, right?) I think it's time for another reason: Fellowship.  Woodcarvers carve as a way to enjoy the company of other people.  If people have a mental image of woodcarving it is often the old man sitting whittling on his front porch. But that's not really what most carvers are doing.  Initially, we may carve with other people because we need someone else to teach us what to do, which tools to use and how to use them. But carvers continue to carve together because they enjoy each other's company.  In addition to structured classes, many carving clubs get together and work on whatever they please. In either of these cases, you can get feedback, or see a technique you'd like to try.  But often you just enjoy the company.  By far the majority of carvers I have met are friendly and positive in their feedback. They are people you look forward to being around. When we carve toge

I am working on the design for a carving of St. Ignatius of Loyola that will be just under a foot tall. The inspiration for this carving comes from a statue that in turn draws its inspiration from a statue of St. Ignatius that is in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Some good friends have loaned me additional reference material. Here are the initial sketches I did of the front and side views.