It’s been a while since I carved. I don’t know why I stopped? I guess I was busy doing other art projects. But yesterday I started carving again. I started with Vincent, the varroa destructor’s fat little body. I wanted to start with his body because I need to see how round he ends up and if his 4 arms will work around his belly. I may need to extend his arms. Art is all about making a million tiny decisions.

I’m using basswood I ordered from Heinecke Wood https://heineckewood.com/. I’m carving with a flex craft knife and using a Pfeil gouge. I love pfeil gouges, they are comfortable in my hand and cut like a dream. they are more expensive but so worth every penny.

It felt so good to sit at my workbench in the sun and carve away. I could’ve gone on for hours but I didn’t want to overuse my hand, neck and shoulder muscles. I was afraid that I may have forgotten how to carve but the memory tracks in my brain and hands are still there and it came easily.

When I learn a new skill, I keep repeating it till my hands ( really my brain) can do it with ease and little thought. I think of it as training my hands. I know it is really laying down new branches in my brain with information I can use.