Carving the curved letter section begins with the stop cut. I use a out cannel gouge that is close to the radius that has been layed out. If you don’t have an gouge close, you can work you centers down with a parting tool, or you can use the corner of your bench chisel to work carefully around the curve. when using your bench chisel, be aware of how deep your actualy cutting, just like before you can always clean up alittle deeper.
I will try and work the curves in 1/4 sections (90 degrees) turning the piece as needed to keep cutting downhill where possible. Now you won’t always be able to cut with the grain, but keeping your chisels SHARP and not trying to pop you chips up will help when working up hill. 
Once I have my stops in I will begin carving. I use a bench chisel for the inside radius and a incannel gouge for the outside section. 
I like the incannel gouge on the outside sections because it allows me hold the chisel at a much more comfortable angle and I feel like I can better anticipate where the I am cutting
Once I have the 95% of the curved letter section removed I will clean up the bottom with what’s left of my little carving knife. I have broken this thing many times but to be honest the shape it is now really seems to work for clean up
So I finished the lettering, which looks fine and then ran down stairs and removed some of the dead spaces on the bandsaw where possible and the rest with the coping saw and have begun the stop cuts that will outling the various curves in the flowers and leaves.
I also took a forstner bit and drilled a hole at the center of the flower.
I started the flower working aggressively towards the center
I will continue this until the rough shape is there, I will also try an remove any areas around the flower at this time so that I don’t damage the flower later
keep working down, defining the petals more as you work deeper
carve alittle more, I’m using the 1/4 ” gouge now to texture the petals
once I’m content with the flower, I’ll start working on the leaves and stem
and here’s where I am so far working on the leaves, cut the one leaf all the way off ( I some how roughed it in upside down and it would have been too deep to carve now, so I sawed it off. Don’t tell anybody)
-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.
10 comments so far
Jimboe
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60 posts in 156 days
posted 62 days ago
Does the title really have the words “simple carving” in it !! LOL Looks hard to me .Great carving harold !! Beautiful !!
WoodJack49
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185 posts in 168 days
posted 62 days ago
Great tutorial. Thanks!
-- Jack - Mission Viejo, Calif
Mark Mazzo
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287 posts in 318 days
posted 62 days ago
Harold,
Very nice tutorial – please keep it up for us aspiring carvers!
I am guessing that an “incannel” gouge is one where the concave edge (i.e. the inside curve of the gouge) is also sharpened. Is that correct?
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com
Chris
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1009 posts in 397 days
posted 62 days ago
Wonderful Tutorial… Thank you very much!
I do have a couple of questions though:
1. What is the difference between incannel and outcannel?
2. Would you explain what is meant when you stated “Once I have my stops in I will begin carving”? Stops???
-- Chris
trifern
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2311 posts in 173 days
posted 62 days ago
Very cool stuff!
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
brunob
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1243 posts in 575 days
posted 62 days ago
Not so simple but great post. Thanks.
-- Bruce from Central New York
Harold
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268 posts in 253 days
posted 62 days ago
hello Chris,
the difference between incannel and outcannel is the side on which the bevel is ground or cut. An outcannel will have the bevel ground on the bottom, or bevel down and an incannel will have the bevel ground on the top or bevel up. The gouges are intended for concave (outcanel) and convex (incannel) work, for example when you are carving the out side bevel of your letters I use the bevel up or incannel gouge because it can be held at a more comfortable angle for my personal taste. It is also easier for me to follow the lines with this gouge even though from a technique stand point I am using the gouge upside down. Now I refer to the stop cuts as the center cut, this line and cut represents where the two cuts or bevels will intersect at the bottom. This cut does a couple things, it sets the initial depth of your letters and it also provide a relief for the chips on both sides to break free. I will take a couple pictures of the two gouges.
I hope this makes sense,
-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.
David
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79 posts in 121 days
posted 62 days ago
Sweet!! You ”free form” guys never cease to amaze me: I’m a saw jocky. This is very informative. Thanks for the lesson. Hope to see more of your works and “lessons”
David
stanley2
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136 posts in 201 days
posted 61 days ago
Harold – thanks again for the tutorial and the explanation of terms used in your description of process.
-- Phil in British Columbia
Harold
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268 posts in 253 days
posted 32 days ago
I finished up this little sign, I think I try something alittle different that may be easier to understand, but for now here’s a picture…
I use common artist oil paints that are thined for the color, it’s a compromise when painting a carving but the color does help when the work is intended for outdoors…..indoors I tend to shy away from color and will lightly stain if anything. this little sign is mango and it has naturallly beautiful patterns in the grain so a compromise always has it’s downside.
-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.