DIY Network

Carved Caricature: Firefighter, Pt. 2 From "Woodsculpting" episode DWDS-102

Ortel captures human spirit and humor in the form and faces of his carved caricatures.

In this episode of DIY's Woodsculpting Workshop Peter Ortel, award-winning woodcarver creates a carved caricature of a NYC firefighter. In this segment, he refines the carving with detail work and paint.

Materials used in this episode:

Bass wood
Chisels
Carving knive
Band saw
Tracing paper
Carbon paper
Ballpoint pen
Watercolor paint and brushes

Figure A

Firefighter Carving, Part 2

Beginning with a cartoon-like sketch of the character's front view and profile (figure A), Peter transferred those lines to a block of bass wood and has already cut out the rough form using a band saw.

• Following his drawn guide-lines, Peter has removed some of the excess wood so that the piece has begun to take shape (figure B). Now he is ready to begin carving out the individual elements -- e.g., hands, feet, coat-sleeve and cuff, etc. -- of the overall form. As he works, Peter goes back and draws additional pencil-lines to guide his cuts.

  Taking note of the shape of the legs and the stance of the figure, Peter marks the point of separation between the forward and rear leg (figure C). He then uses a small, curved chisel to hollow out the opening, working on one side and then the other, to create the negative space between the legs.

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

• Peter then moves on to the face. After outlining the mustache, he uses a small, flat chisel to shape the cheeks which are slightly recessed relative to the mustache (figure D).

• He goes back and redraws guide-lines for the mustache (figure E) before carving further. Once the line is drawn, he carves just below the line to create the line of the mouth and lower lip. On this carving, the upper lip and part of the mouth is concealed by the mustache.
  

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

• As he continues the carving the details, he shapes the helmet and where it drops down to the collar (figure F).

• He also carefully carves the fingers that grip the firehose and buckle on the close of the coat (figure G). Additional details include an outer coat-pocket and wrinkles in the back of the coat suggesting a twisting motion to the form.

  Figure F

  Figure G

  
  

  	Figure H
  	Figure I

• He works slowly and a bit-at-a-time on shaping the eyes, which Peter considers one of the most important elements. He scores the upper and lower lids then, using the tip of a sharp knife, recesses the eyes slightly back from the edges of the lids (figure H).

  Carving Tip: When carving the face of a character, working on both eyes at the same time helps ensure symmetry.

• Once all of the major details have been established, Peter goes back to do any smaller refinement on the details that may be necessary -- e.g., creating the nostrils on the nose, texturing on the eyebrows, texturing on the coat or boots, removing unwanted rough spots, etc.

• With the carving done (figure I), Peter adds one last carved detail -- his signature -- then begins work painting the piece.
  

• Peter washes the carved piece to remove any smudge marks and allows it to dry before applying paint. He uses watercolors and, on this piece, begins with the black and grays of the fireman's uniform (figure J).

• He continues painting, adding color to the face and fine details such as the lettering on the hat (figure K) and the whites of the eyes.

  Figure J

  Figure K

  
  

  	Figure L
  	Wood sculptor and teacher Peter Ortel.
  	The final carved detail: Peter Ortel's hand-carved signature.
  	Award-winning caricature carver Peter Ortel visualizes his creations "from the outside in."

Ortel on Caricature-Carving: "Caricature carving is an exaggeration of whatever the subject is. You [carve based on] what you like and how you feel. There are certain parts that you exaggerate on the form. I like to exaggerate the hands, feet and face. There's so much expression going on in the face."

Ortel on East Coast vs. West Coast Firemen: "If you're gonna carve a New York City fireman, he's gonna need a big, bushy mustache. If he's gonna be a California fireman -- no mustache, and he's gotta be very, very handsome."

RESOURCES :

Fox Chapel Publishing Co.
Publishers of
Woodcarving Illustrated magazine and numerous books on woodcarving.
1970 Broad Street
East Petersburg, PA 17520

Websites:
www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Fox Chapel Publishing, featured authors

Special DIY page at www.woodcarvingillustrated.com

Woodcarving Illustrated magazine
Website: www.woodcarvingillustrated.com

Caricature Carvers of America
www.cca-carvers.org

GUESTS :

Peter Ortel, wood sculptor
Monroe, NY
Peter Ortel bio