"New" Chisel

I have had a chisel for like 20 years and never knew what it was for. I know it sounds crazy. I guess it just never struck me. I looked at it a bunch of times and it always seemed like it was backwards or something. Well, today I figured it out and I am sure many people who read this will think it is ridiculous that it took me so long but I guess I am just slow sometimes. Here is the chisel:






















And here is how it is used:





















Also I know it looks very rusty. Well two things about that, one, I assure you it is sharp as a razor, and two, I did not value it very highly because I thought it was just an awkward tool that did not have much use. But what it actually does is create a really nice undercut, and believe me this sculpture is all undercuts. Also, I have entered a new phase in this carving, defining transitions. Most of the major masses are found and now I'm figuring out how each shape relates to the ones around it. I think this is my favorite part of carving however with this sculpture and at the rate that I am working I am sure I will be doing this for the next year or so. But I do think the forms are becoming more defined. I am also getting more and more frustrated that I am not looking at the form as it will be ultimately displayed which means that I need to address the base or at least one that approximates the final position of the sculpture. Here is where I am now.