Post #219631 by Aaron's Akua on Wed, Mar 8, 2006 9:07 PM

Dave, it's hard to get these things into words. Isn't it great how carving screws with your head??? that's what makes it all the more satisfyng once you overcome the problem, or as is usually the case, series of problems. You gotta love it!

Looking at your pictures, I'd say you need to move the hands away from the sides, over to where they rest on his thighs. Don't move the shoulders in - you want broad shoulders if you are going for a muscley look. I think there's plenty of wood left to do that. The chest also looks plenty beefy with lots of room for refinement.

Work on the arms first, because that is your hard spot right now, and once you get them right, they will dictate the other surrounding elements, and not the other way around. I think it will work itself out that way.

As far as drilling, I've found out the hard way that it is always best to use a long, small diameter bit to run a pilot hole first. That way you can adjust if it comes out in the wrong spot. Once it comes out right, you can switch to the larger wood boring bit.

Another good rule of thumb is to draw your lines out first, but leave an extra 1/4" or so around them when you make the cuts. Then you can chisel in closer and define muscles, etc after you get the rough proportions in.

This Ku looks right on target so far - sure to be a killer piece.

4 weeks off with mallet elbow & I'm full of good advice... I think I better get get carvin' again. Thanks for the inspiration!

Cheers!

Aaron