Learning about chisels and some whakarei.

Our chisels have arrived woohoo!.  So in preparation for 'picking them up' Kawiti talked about each of the chisels and their uses this week.  I found it interesting and as I watch carving demos on You Tube, I can now visualise my own carving using the correct tools/chisels. 

I'm super keen to learn how to care for them because if there's something I have picked up from pretty much EVERY carver I have talked to, watched online or read about, is how important it is to look after your tools and to keep your chisels sharp.

Kawiti also showed us a few demos on how to carve some of the whakarei.  He suggested we have a go at just carving straight lines to get a feel of how the chisels move through the wood, getting a feel for the grain and how easily (or not) chisels cut.  I found an old pine bed head leg to have a tutu with.  I made a few observations while I was practising:

1.  I loved the smell of the wood while carving (haha probably treated pine which isn't good for you)

2.  I could feel the difference between using a light and heavy mallet to your work.  The heavier being harder on your arm but cut through the wood nicer.
3.   I loved the korero between the tap tap tapping of the mallet and the sliding of the chisel against the wood.
4.  I actually really enjoy the 'tidying' up of the lines afterwards - I can imagine it being time consuming if you had to tune out a number of pieces and a master probably wouldn't have to go back and tidy up after their cuts... I enjoyed the process.

Things that I am thankful for this week:
- Our online classes have been sooooo helpful (particularly for me who has just come into this class pretty much clueless)
- A supportive partner who encourages me to go an purchase the gear I need to set myself up for success in this course.
-  Having gear, tools and wood to play with.