Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:53:58 -0800 (PST)
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sculpting wood (tips?)


Mathieu,
Both ends of the wood blocks have to be cut perfectly square, so the glue will not show. Usually, it's not hard to carve the glue line, unless is thick. A thick glue line (in places) results=A0when the ends of the blocks are not cut perfectly square.
It's common sense, when you glue the two pieces of wood, make sure the long grains get connected on the glue line and run along or parallel, depending what you need to carve. Think of the block of wood as you think of your palm, with the fingers close together. The fingers are the long grains. Take then a chisel and start carving :O) You want a wider piece of wood, then imagine your both palms, facing up glued along the little finger line.
About carving perpendicular on the grains... Let's say you have some thick wooden dowel around and think about cutting a small piece. Do not draw the puppet head on the circle end for you cannot carve it. It might split if you were able to carve it, which I doubt.=A0Even the wooden rings cannot be made of dowel ends for they split, too. 
You probably think of carving a puppet=A0from that table leg you have. Measure the length of the head and that appropriate length from the table leg. Draw the face on one side and the profile on the lateral sides and start carving.
Yes, is better to carve a body part from a single piece of wood, since some wood show really pretty grains, but glued wood it will not split on you. If the wood comes from the same table leg do not worry about the look for that wood has the same kind of grains and color.=A0Try to avoid=A0gluing together=A0different types of wood or you'll end up with different strengths. That could be frustrating when carving. When I carved my Arlechino shoes, I made sure the pine was the back of the shoe for is harder to carve than red cedar, the front of the shoe.
For the disks: lay a piece of table leg in your palm, the grains running the same direction with your fingers, and draw the circle or circles as many as you need. 
I think I saw a similar puppet as the one you want to make: the worm from=A0"The light keeper" - Le Theatre de L'oeiul.
For an unknown reason to me, I cannot see the pictures today.
=A0
Carolina

--- On Tue, 12/23/08, Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> wrote:

From: Mathieu René <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sculpting wood (tips?)
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 1:07 PM

When glueing wood to make blocks for sculpting, is there a recommended 
position, so that the joint lines will not show or be problematic in 
carving?

Is the glue line harder to carve than the wood itself?

My tendency would be to avoid glue lines directly in front of the face, 
unless the puppet is relatively big.
Because of this, I think I'd go for a single piece of wood when making
small 
and medium heads.
Or am I being too cautious?

My other concern is the appearance of the wood parts together. Even if all 
the wood comes from the same piece before gluing, my guess is there might be 
differences in coloring.
Which might be detrimental to the look, if it wasn't meant as part of the 
design.


For my first puppet fully in carved wood, the possibly glued parts would 
only be the disks that will form the torso (elongated torso, like a giant 
tentacle. No legs. The rest is human-like).




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