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First carving attempts of a newbie |
anchorfish
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 30, 2011
Posts: 25
From: Newport Beach, Ca
|  Posted: 2012-05-27 8:54 pm Permalink
Well after lurking the depths of TC and seeing the vast collection of carving/sculpting talent - I have decided to jump in the water and try my hand at carving tiki...
......I like it!
(the back story) I found some Mexican Palm logs that a guy was trying to dump and, being a newb, I said sure I'll take'm! Hauled them home and stared at them for a month or so before I got brave enough to dig in.. Keep in mind I was all over this forum seeing the outstanding collection of work/talent and was feeling pretty insecure. Anyways, I traded tools for chisels and went for it. I did these by hand, including stripping them. I have to say I am hooked. What a zen kind of experience feeling a razor sharp chisel move through the fibers of a palm log  As I carved away I soon realized that these gems were rotting from the inside out! So I decided to try and save the first little guy by hollowing him out.. also entirely by hand.. I started a second log and after cutting some deep lines I actually saw, and heard, it spit! Broke out the chain saw and cut out a section from the back and hollowed out the soft stringy rotting insides. this stopped the spitting. At this point I used the back piece to carve a mask.. So please feel free to share any advice.. I'm currently working on a third tiki and would appreciate you collective wizdom 
... holds the plant so he doesn't feel so empty inside
Used a torch for color..
This is the guy that lost his back... Tiki #3, still gonna finish him
I'm learning a lot both from TC and hands on... most important lesson-keep your chisels razor sharp!
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Badd Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 387 | Posted: 2012-05-27 11:21 pm Permalink
Nice work, especially like the first one. Must've been a ton of work to hollow him out like that
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Cljha
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Posts: 58
From: Earth
| Posted: 2012-05-27 11:39 pm Permalink
Welcome,
woaw, the first one...can't wait to see more.
I also started making tiki recently and for sure they should put a warning on tiki central about the addiction that it creates 
About the mask, I liked it better before torch, but hey that's just my opinion
Good luck with the third one.
Take Care
Christophe
_________________
Be Water
Christophe
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anchorfish
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 30, 2011
Posts: 25
From: Newport Beach, Ca
| Posted: 2012-05-27 11:42 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2012-05-27 23:21, Badd Tiki wrote:
Nice work, especially like the first one. Must've been a ton of work to hollow him out like that
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yeah it was but it just helped me to better understand the tools... I also figured out that some long chisels for deep work would be a good investment
Thanks for the complement Badd Tiki !
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anchorfish
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 30, 2011
Posts: 25
From: Newport Beach, Ca
| Posted: 2012-05-27 11:50 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2012-05-27 23:39, Cljha wrote:
Welcome,
woaw, the first one...can't wait to see more.
I also started making tiki recently and for sure they should put a warning on tiki central about the addiction that it creates
About the mask, I liked it better before torch, but hey that's just my opinion
Good luck with the third one.
Take Care
Christophe
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LOL.. thanks Christophe... I like it better that way too.. I like seeing the tools marks. But on the plus side somebody has already claimed ownership and it will have a new home tomorrow
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amate
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 03, 2009
Posts: 986 | Posted: 2012-05-28 05:29 am Permalink
You are already producing some nice work. Keep carving!
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surfintiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 30, 2004
Posts: 1576
From: S. Chatham, MA
| Posted: 2012-05-28 06:25 am Permalink
You're hooked.
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MaukaHale
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 07, 2012
Posts: 811
From: The base of the Volcano
| Posted: 2012-05-28 06:38 am Permalink
You have a talent for carving.
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Atomic Mess
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 13, 2012
Posts: 283
From: Hack-Ah-Nee
| Posted: 2012-05-29 04:00 am Permalink
good stuff, like the planter!
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anthonymaye
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 26, 2012
Posts: 210
From: Sacramento, CA
| Posted: 2012-05-29 06:23 am Permalink
Your tikis look amazing like your style and the hollow tiki looks cool as a planter and when it was empty.
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McTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2004
Posts: 1962
From: Sunny Florida
| Posted: 2012-05-29 06:30 am Permalink
Very nice carvings. Welcome to TC fellow addicted one.
Mahalo
McTiki
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anchorfish
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 30, 2011
Posts: 25
From: Newport Beach, Ca
| Posted: 2012-05-29 10:59 am Permalink
Thanks for all the kinds comments! It is an addiction and it also saved my life. I am so stoked to be in a place with such a concentrated and diverse collection of talent and inspiration.. .. I was going to start doing this some time back but then gave up before I started after I saw the high level skill on TC...... then I ran across Crazy Al's work.... I felt like buying chisels just throw them into the ocean hahha!
Howzits and Mahalos
[ This Message was edited by: anchorfish 2012-05-29 11:00 ]
[ This Message was edited by: anchorfish 2012-06-11 18:47 ]
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pjc5150
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2009
Posts: 2379
From: Tampa, FL
| Posted: 2012-05-29 1:54 pm Permalink
dude, that is an EXCELLENT first effort...
kudos!!!
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anchorfish
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 30, 2011
Posts: 25
From: Newport Beach, Ca
| Posted: 2012-05-31 01:32 am Permalink
Howzits!.... here are some progress pics of Tiki 3... again, I am totally open to any and ALL advice or tips you guys might want to offer.
I'm not sure if it's the Spanish palm wood or the fact that it was so old that makes it so inconsistent when carving.... or if it's just me being a newb  Some areas are crazy brittle while other spots cut clean and smooth. My other frustration is that I can't go as deep as I would like too..
As you can see I made some changes from the first pic I posted. I'm still roughing it in and just starting to model it here and there. I still have a long ways to go but over all I'm digging where its heading
Just starting to remove material to define the mouth more before laying out and the starting the teeth.
This is the back section I mentioned earlier. That piece became the mask I posted.
I'll post the rest when he's completed. Mahalo!
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TheBigT
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1641
From: Fabulous Houston
| Posted: 2012-05-31 08:47 am Permalink
Coming along great! Only your 3rd tiki?? wow. Nice work. Can't help you with palm. I've never carved any. The one you're carving sounds about as finicky as the pine i usually carve.
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