Got Images?

One of the things I would like to take along with us on our month-long road trip is lots of fun images to carve. How nice it is, after a rather long day of driving and a restful dinner and swim for the junior travelers, to sit down with my best bud and spend some time carving in the hotel room. But, I need images - which leads me to my dilemma...

I need inspiration!

Can you help me? Is there images you have seen that you just would love to see carved? Interesting ideas that just won't leave you alone, or challenging portraits you are just itchin' to see immortalized in rubber?

Please - send me ideas! Letterboxers are the most creative people I have ever known, and I know you guys won't hold out on me...

Needled

This stamp was carved using a needle and a gouge...and tweezers!

(actual size 1.75")

There has been much talk lately about using needles, and by extension wire knives, among carvers. I had given needles a try quite a long time ago, and was sorely disappointed with the results. I ended up throwing them into a tin and stashing it in my craftroom to be forgotten. However, as talk continued about needles, my curiosity was again aroused and I researched further into their use. Using the needle with a pin vise is definitely the way to go, and I have enjoyed more success with the needle this time around.


The stamp above was carved using a needle along the straight lines (I chose the 18 gauge). I then gouged out inside the lines to remove the bulk of material, following up with my tweezers to remove the material closest to the needled lines. Talk about tedious! But, my lines were sharp, for the most part. Practice is needed, to be sure. I definitely felt like I was getting sharper lines when I was carving than shows in the finished printing. *frown*

I chose this image to needle carve because of all the corners and small boxes. To be honest, it would be quite a challenge to get the corners as tight with a gouge...possible, but a challenge. If it were a portrait, I don't think I would chose a needle to outline - far too tedious and you absolutely cannot see where you have cut with the needle. I think the gouge is far more suited for portraits, but that's just my opinion.

As far as lettering goes, the needle is handy to have for those corners (H, T, E, etc.) and for the inside of capital A, which is always a pain. But for curves, I'll grab my gouge every time.

The technique of carving with needles is similar to x-acto knife carving. You do not want to 'undercut' your lines for obvious reasons. So, to avoid undercutting, angle your needle or knife away from the line you are cutting next to, to create a type of peak (instead of cutting straight down along the line). This will make your stamping surface more stable and secure...less wobbly and prone to breakage. Another tip I was given, and used, is to only use the very tip of the needle, instead of trying to push it down farther into the material. You are actually cutting deeper than you realize with the needle, and by using only the very tip, you can get more control with your cuts.

One other thing; I would not want to needle carve without my magnifying lamp...not by a long shot! I really took my time and was careful. One slip with that needle and...oops! As you can see in the stamped image above, I almost took out one line completely. I'll have to be careful cleaning that stamp or else I'll lose that line altogether.

So, will I continue to use my needles? Heck, yeah! For all those little, tight corners and small bits that are easier to snag with a needle than with my gouge. Will I forsake my gouge for needles - no way! My gouge is like an extension of my hand at this point. *smile*

As conversations have progressed, it would seem that some have some misconceptions about carving and creating stamps. I'd like to share some of my thoughts, just to get it off my chest.

One method of carving is not better, or more advanced, than another.

It has been suggested that needle carving is the 'next step' to advancement in carving skills. This couldn't be farther from the truth, in my view. Some like to carve with a gouge, some like x-acto knives and some like needles or wires. I have seen incredible stamps produced by all these methods. But to suggest that needle carving is more advanced than gouge carving is untrue and misleading.

You just can't get good detail unless you use a needle or wire.

Again, this is just not true. Carving with a needle, wire or knife is completely different than carving with a gouge. That's right - different, not more detailed. I am sorry if this disappoints anyone, but the only way to achieve detail in carved stamps is with practice and lots of it. Challenging yourself to images just outside your comfort zone is an excellent way to stretch your skill and prowess with whatever tool you choose. It may take years to achieve your goals, but probably not. Most improve their carving skills within a short time and soon are able to produce pieces that they are quite satisfied with.

You cannot get good, detailed images to carve using the pencil transfer method.

Wrong again. I have always used the pencil transfer method and it has yielded excellent results. To claim otherwise is foolish and silly. I am not suggesting that it is the only or best way - I'm sure that other methods are just as good. Whatever the carver feels comfortable with is what they should use.

One side benefit to the pencil transfer method is that it's portable, and since I carve while traveling, this suits me best. I can't imagine taking along chemicals, an iron or trying to find the right copy machine in a strange town just to get my image onto the rubber.

And one final thought to newer carvers: be patient. You will not be an accomplished carver overnight and there is not a better tool that will make that happen. There are some things that will improve your carving skill - good material, sharp tools, a magnifying lamp, and practice, practice, practice. Carve to your hearts content, plant traditionals, create LTCs or postals, and create sig stamps for you, family and friends. I think practice is the best new 'tool' you could add to your carving kit.

And me? Well, I'm looking for that next great challenge of an image to push it to the next level. I need to practice some more with that needle, and I can't wait to give the wire knife a go...

Perseverance

(actual size 3.5" x 1.5")

Just a good thought to remember, eh? And applies to carving, as well. When newer 'boxers ask me what they can do to be better carvers, I always just say 'practice, practice, practice, and keep challenging yourself to just a little bit outside your comfort zone...you can do it!'

This stamp was carved for a Dewberry project a bit ago.

Twenty-Five Cents Worth

I have been long since finished with my contribution to the State Quarters swap, hosted by Lilac Butterfly. As most of you may know, I like to get my commitments done right away, while the idea and enthusiasm is fresh and alive in my mind. However, it seems that it is always the same with larger swaps; it is always difficult to get a carver/artist for every piece of the set, whatever it is...be it states, alphabet, etc. This swap is no different, so I volunteered to take another state.

I chose So. Dakota. I like So. Dakota, and we just visited there on the Big Road Trip in the spring of '08. Sioux Falls was beautiful (and happens to be the birthplace of my beloved mother) and the (Laura Ingalls) prairie was something I won't soon forget - I love it. After I chose it, however, I discovered why no one wanted to carve the quarter.


Yes, that's right...Mt. Rushmore is featured on the coin. Ha! Well, I gave it my best shot. Those heads get pretty small on a 'coin' that is only 2" across, that's all I gotta say! Looking at it again, I could have added more detail to the bird's wings and I totally missed Teddy's mustache, but too late now - once that rubber's gone, it's gone, baby!

And below is the Washington quarter I initially chose - I really like the design, as it portrays the Pacific Northwest and our state so well.

I designed this one a little different, giving it an additional layer behind the detail. The larger size (2.5" x 3.5") enabled me to play with the lettering a bit, focusing more on the shadow that is created on the coin, instead of straight lettering like I did on the So. Dakota coin.

Speaking of lettering, I posted on an AQ thread recently concerning lettering. Most folks, it would seem, are a little intimidated with lettering, but I have always found it enjoyable (I think I just have a lot to say!) I started carving lettering with my very first stamp.

Anyway, here's the post. I was encouraged by a friend to post it "in a more permanent place", and I suppose my blog is as permanent as the Internet gets.

I like to carve letters and sometimes carve text just for fun. *nodding*

I agree to just think of them as shapes, but if you carve enough of them, pretty soon you will develop a technique or method for each letter. I think E, H and T are more difficult with the sharp corners that demand more precision than an S. O is an interesting letter, easy on the outside, more challenging on the inside. If I feel kinda lazy, I'll resort to my *gasp* pointy x-acto for the center (I place the tip in the center and spin the rubber against the slanted knife edge to cut out a little cone of material...careful, though - you can easily take out more than you intend!).

Of course, script is far more 'forgiving' than manuscript type fonts, in my view. The more curves, the better. When carving text, I always carve a line across the bottom of the text with my gouge, hitting the bottom curves of all the letters in the line, then do the same with the top. Then, I focus on each letter, usually right to left, sometimes just carving a line between each letter creating a border to work inside for each letter. (does that makes sense?) A little bit of determination and strong will also helps in carving letters. I always figure if Scoutdogs can do it, so can I! lol!

Anyway, there's my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

Actually, that's twenty-five cents worth, huh?

It's not easy being...orange.

With all the talk lately about orange PZ Kut, I had the itch to play around with some orange scraps that I had in my scrap bag. I haven't carved with orange for a bit since I have been enjoying the white grade A so much. It definitely carves differently than the white; I think it feels more 'waxy', not as 'rubbery', and you cannot push it around as much as the white. I suspect it holds up a bit better than the white, especially those really small details.

The above stamps are carved in orange PZ Kut, grade B. If you haven't tried it, I suggest you grab a slab from WEBFOOT and give it a go. You may find that you like it better than what you are using now...you never know!