Just a general question

[wooll]

I was wondering. I know about the techniques and all that, but how do you each get inspiration. I read where some guys get a piece of wood and just keep it till something comes to them. Or some of you hear a little voice in their ear, like me (somehow it sounds like my wifes nagging). Are there other ways? Come on give it up, if nothing else it will make for a good thread on the forum....

:+

[keith]

I am working on a commissioned piece right now that is driving me crazy. The customer wants a nude or semi-nude female figure carved out of a 68" Cypress Knee. I am having to force this onto the wood. I didn't see a woman in the wood when I started, and though I have started roughing her in, I still cannot see the final product in my mind. I have made about 80 sketches of what this piece should look like, but because it was someone else's idea I find myself just standing there looking at it wondering where I should put my chisel next. This weekend I am going to make a small version of the piece out of clay so that I can get it straight in my head. once your minds eye can see the final product, things usually move quickly.

So... to answer your post, I guess I wait until I see something in the wood.

[wooll]

I have the same problem when someone asks me to make something. I cannot see it unless they draw it out even if the drawing is crude. I hope it works out for you and I hope you post the final peice when done. I also have to confess to using a digital camera on a peice that just doesn't look right and stepping back and even getting a second opinion on what it should look like before proceeding.

[wooll]

What about the rest of you guys? Where do those ideas come from? what methods do you use to work through a project? Fess up!!!!! Inquiring minds want to know...

:7

[keith]

Wooll, I think a digital camera and some image editing software is a great tool. I will take a picture of a chunk-O-wood, bring it into Photoshop and then I can superimpose my sketches or a photo on top of that. Then I can print it out at actual size to give me a template(I have a large format "Poster" printer). I have done this on occasions when I have been asked "Can you carve my dog?...He's dead, but I have a picture of him".