Sun Nov 22, 2015 8:01 pm
#95621
I think it's more of a personal choice.
I carve both -- and they both have their challenges, but I think I am a "better" carver on "reals". And I think I like the look and feel of real better.
I am no artist (that title is for folks like Ryan, who make the patterns possible), but I like working with tools -- Foamies allow me to take my time with them. I typically start, and stop and pick up again over the course of the year, trying out different drill bits & techniques. Absent of any artistic talent myself, I like the challenge of the foam, and seeing my carving improve -- I can turn out some nice ones in foam, if I am not rushed. I'm also a perfectionist and once the sun goes down I keep going back again to tweak and adjust the cuts, the shading and glow; even the following year.
On the flip side, foamies make me feel like I should be wearing a hazmat suit, and require (IMHO) a mask and gear to avoid breathing the dust. But I also like watching my display grow and develop year after year. But then there's there's the storage issue...
Reals pose a different challenge in that once you start, you need to finish before it rots. I actually like the "knife feel" and the glow of a real better than foam, and reals make me "feel" like I am creating some kind of art, even if it's only preserved in photos -- which is a whole other challenge for me (photography).
I think it's all a trade-off... That's why I do both.
I love the spirit of Halloween, and the creativity that comes with it. Embrace it!