Real-Life Decision Making
Carvers have to make many decisions, beginning with choosing the perfect material.
On this occasion, you've decided to carve a black bear out of a piece of white pine. First, you head out into the bush and look over the trees. You select one that you think has sound wood, interesting characteristics and a few knots.
After cutting and allowing the wood to cure, you then decide upon the exact design of your carving. "You have to draw out what you want to do and then you have to build up that drawing until it's a 3D figure," says carver Moe Thompson.
You decide to draw the bear standing on its hind legs scratching at a tree. The work goes well, and once the drawing is done, you're set to begin carving.
Following your design, you whittle away at the wood. It looks fantastic. As the work progresses and the cuts become deeper and deeper, you come across an unexpected knot. Oh no! What are you going to do now?
The knot doesn't fit in with the original design and would be viewed as a flaw if you left it as is.
What do you do?