Post #267148 by Paipo on Thu, Nov 16, 2006 11:57 AM

On 2006-11-15 23:34, Tamapoutini wrote:
In comparison, I know we are both very fussy about getting our designs 'just so' before commencing a carving. This is a very time consuming route & one that has always left me envious of the lucky few who can really 'see' into a form without the necessity of drawing/redrawing/redrawing, etc...

I think the gist (amongst the haze of cheap red cask wine) of it was that I agreed that the (Benz) method worked as I use it too (rather than being in the fussy camp), and it comes from an understanding of your subject. I have also chatted about this with the man himself. I firmly believe my work has got better the less I draw. The time I used to spend drawing, I now spend studying photos and drawings of old (or new) pieces and absorbing the "elements" and the feel of the design, and then thinking about how I can make it my own. A structured way of "Channelling" if you like. I'm not as bold as you've been here though - I probably wouldn't ever carve the face on one my fellas without a single line to guide me!
All that said, this guy has turned out really nicely, with a lot more animation in his arms and torso, and has a more "organic" feel (for want of a better word), but with a nod to tradition too. He definitely stands out to me as being stylistically different to a lot of your other guys. It'd be interesting to know how the old-timers designed their tikis.