How's this statement: Knife "carving" is not really carving. It's whittling.
Carving must involve chisels and gouges and a mallet.
Is this what E.J. Tangerman said????
You all really believe this?????
Wood Carving discussions on techniques, projects, beginner, basic, general and advanced skill levels
I think it has to do with stock removal of wood then its carving. Don't matter if it's all done with knives or all done with a mallet and chisels.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we do have to consider chainsaw carving.
ReplyDeleteAn ol' military fellow like you maybe ought to consider shaped charges. Yikes, what did I just print!
Shaped charges are better for carving dirt than wood. And yea, add them chainsaw folks in they are removing wood to create something as well.
ReplyDeleteWhittling is just a style of carving, like impressionism is a style of painting. Don't get me started on this, Tom!
ReplyDeleteBob
Tom .. If knife carving isnt real carving .. I guess I better delete all my 347 videos on you -tube and do videos on basket weaving ( even though I dont know how to do that either )
ReplyDeleteI guess we better all change the history books and tell those civil war soliders that whittled those cooking utensils by the campfire at night that they werent really carving ... Or those hobos who had nothing but a old knife that their priceless tramp art isnt really carving .. or that every piece of wood ever whittled by someone ..that in reality it wasnt carved at all ..
You Can Do ! ,, But I wouldnt want to !
Gene
You know when you get right down to it , its what ever floats your Boat and you feel most comfortable doing. But knife put to wood is carving in its purest sense i believe!
ReplyDeleteHal in Seattle
There is carving in stone, carving pumpkins, carvings in ice, carving is carving.... does not matter if you use a ice pick or jack hammer...all that matters is what happens after you used your tools. Whittle is a style of tool and not the end result.... which may be a statue or fire wood, of coarse there is the artist which may say that the fire wood is work of God hands. Depends on the kind of fool I am....doesn't it??..smile
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to pick nits, shouldn't it be that real carving involves a sharpened stone? :-)
ReplyDeleteEd
This is rather entertaining! Carving with a knife is differant than whittling in my humble opinion of the definition. I always thought whittling was just shaving a twig down to a point. Usually to kill time or make a sharp stick. Carving with a knife is anything that is NOT a sharp stick as an end result. It's hard to describe in words but I could show ya in 30 seconds the difference.
ReplyDeleteSticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. WRONG! Words are the most hurtful thing of all.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter if someone defines wood removal as "whittling" or "carving". What matters is the intent behind those labels. For many, the word whittling has taken on a derogatory....belittleing meaning. As if removing wood with a knife is somehow less worthy than removing wood with chisels.
It's all just wood removal....you can do it with your teeth.....if you wanna. What matters is the end result.
Joy
I carved my kids into men, sometimes with a sharp tongue and sometimes with a hard thump. To me, carving means changing anything from one form into another, hopefully for the better.
ReplyDeleteNow, if I would have whittled them into men, the only difference might be their unfinished appearance to others. That wouldn't mean that me,the whittler,doesn't see them as a finished piece of art.
So, as a new "carver/whittler", I see art in every piece of wood I take in hand.
A common thought seems to be emerging. I mean, besides tolerance for everyones opinions and thoughts. Is it the journey or the distination? Do the ends justify the means? Is Gene's flat plane knife work carving or whittling? I do know that Gene is fast becomeing this generations primere flat plane CARVER. I don't think I've heard of a flat plane whittler.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Ed, if we're gonna get ll "purist" about it, shouldn't we be using seashells and/or slivers of flint. As I believe ol' Michaelangelo once said "I just cut away all the parts that weren't David" don't recall him saying what with......
ReplyDeleteBlinky Bill Australia
I've always been convinced that it's the journey that is the most fun. To me woodcarving (or whittling) is a journey during which I am constantly learning (and occasionally cursing) new things. The fun lessens considerably when I'm finished with the carving and have to paint the #@%$^* thing!
ReplyDeleteBob
Right on, Bob! Lets not lump carving with painting. Ol' Thomp said it right, "I'm a good barn painter, but little carvings, that's another story".
ReplyDeleteHey Blinky, Good to "see" you. You don't suppose that's what happened to all them ol' statues that seems to have male parts missing!
ReplyDeleteIt all comes down to having a sharp object to get the finished product. A knife, chisel, gouge, chainsaw, etc.
ReplyDeleteI really don't care if I'm carving or whittling as long as I'm enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I think you're "spot on" in your thinking.
ReplyDelete