The first character I ever started carving is this guy, Troy the Troll.
I got the design from an book by the famous flat-plane carver Harley Refsal. With no training, I gave up. Years later, after watching YouTube videos (mostly by Doug Linker) and carving a bunch, I finished Troy. He is carrying a Fin Stik! I started with a flat-plane character because of my grandfather’s collection.
Back Story:
My grandfather, George Ritter, was my role model in life. He was such an honest, hard-working, kind, and respectable gentleman, I call him a GREAT man. He and my grandmother traveled the world and collected items from all over. When I visited them as a child, I was captivated by a shelf-full of Scandinavian Flat Plane trolls. When they both passed away, that is all that I asked for of their personal items. Here they still are, now on my shelf! I’m not sure from where and when they came. I wish I knew just so I could add to the story.
I’ve duplicated one and plan to do several more to share their unique design.
The rest of the gang:
