Help or a Good Fire!!

Ron Davidson · #1 11-08-2005, 04:40 PM

Ok everyone here it is my first attempt at a releif carving. I don't have any depth perception so if anyone has any ideas how i can acheive some it would be greatly appreciated. This took me about 180 hours but it was alot of fun and a new experience. Let me know what you think good or bad. Ron

Ron D · #2 11-08-2005, 04:50 PM

ron
what i do is under cut around the edges it gives the carving more depth,with the canoe i cant really tell with the picture but i'd try to slope the canoe offso it looks like the front of canoe is closer to you than the back of it .
hope this helps ron

Mottles · #3 11-08-2005, 05:27 PM

Hi Ron: Such emotion you have created with your first relief carving. The first thing I noticed was the canoe and felt a chuckle. Then I noticed the poor fellow with his head down on the workbench in a heap of dispair. We've all been at some point feeling the sting of making a blunder with our woodworking. Your relief really strikes a cord and is wonderful.
As for your dept perception your wonderful imagination to me makes up for it.

I do wonder though if maybe one of those hand depth gauges with the sliding stop would help. You could set the stop at the dept you'd like...checking it at each cut until your cut matched the depth set on the gauge. I have one I bought at the hardware store for about $2.00. I plan to use mine for my first relief.
Kathy

Kenny_S · #4 11-08-2005, 06:01 PM

Ron,

That is a great relief and with your sight problem , I think youy did a great job. The subject was also great, Poor Chap had a problem with his conoe for sure. Wondering if you can judge by feel? If so , maybe that woould help or have a friend guild you through on depth. All in all, I think it is great and the dispair on the guy, Classic.

AlArchie · #5 11-08-2005, 06:04 PM

Great subject, and well handled.....it drew a good chuckle from me. We've all had some experience with that type of frustration!

As far as constuctive critcism goes, I only have on thing to bring up, but maybe one of the pro relief carvers can add some advice.

Anywhere an object rests on a surface, it should not be relieved from the surface. It may not be, but it looks like the legs of the saw horses have been carved away from the floor, or more acurately, they stand proud of the floor at the point of contact. It kind of gives the impression that they are floating above the floor by a hair.

Hope I didn't step on any toes here, and it may be just the way the photo shows it, but you asked if there was anything that could be done to achieve more depth perception, and that would help.

Al

AlArchie · #6 11-08-2005, 06:07 PM

I'm sorry, I'm looking at this and STILL laughing! What a great concept!

Al

Ron Davidson · #7 11-08-2005, 06:36 PM

Al you didn't hurt my feelings any. I appreciate everyones advice and the legs on the saw horses were a problem. But once they were cut I couldn't figure out how to fix them. I plan on trying more, I'm not going to let it get the best of me.

Colin_Partridge · #8 11-08-2005, 08:19 PM

Ron, Wonderful imagination I can really feel for that fellow you have captured him in all his misery. The information you have recieved here if very valid, the key to relief is to give it that three dimentional look. Carving different items at different depths making the background deeper and adding as you come closer. Hard to explain but never the less a great carving. With your visual challenges you sir have my complete respect. We should all have your determination and attitude we would all be master carvers. Ron I can really associate with your carving. Before I was a carver I was a taxidermist. I had been given a huge commission of a very large bull elk. Well you have no idea how big the antler spread was on this guy. At the time I had my taxidery shop in my basement. Well I mounted that Elk on the form stretched the cape over the form and stitched it all together, mounted the eyes he looked magnificent. My son came home from school and I told him to come down and give me his opinion. We pondered the mount for a few minutes and said, "Dad how are you going to get him out of the basement"? No matter what I did or how I turned him it wouldnt go. I had to completly take him apart and ended up remounting him in the dining room much to the discust of my wife. Your carving reminded me or that so much it was the first thing I thought of. Ron I wouldnt consider re-doing that carving like I did the Elk it is yours keep it I really like it the way it is. Great job

Colin

Hisart · #9 11-10-2005, 10:16 AM

That's a keeper!

I agree with Al ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlArchie

Great subject, and well handled.....it drew a good chuckle from me. We've all had some experience with that type of frustration!

Anywhere an object rests on a surface, it should not be relieved from the surface. It may not be, but it looks like the legs of the saw horses have been carved away from the floor, or more acurately, they stand proud of the floor at the point of contact. It kind of gives the impression that they are floating above the floor by a hair.
Al

All the feet should touch the floor, you have them casting shadows so they float.

The picture and placements all look good, but I would lose/change the barrels. They are on a totally different plane and it's messing with your image. Their tops would be visable just like the table top.

The only other thing I see as 'wrong' is the shop is too neat and clean, looks alien. But then my shop/studio is composed of piles seperated by paths!

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #10 11-10-2005, 10:37 AM

how about some white and yellow mix and a wash below the lights as if the lights are on....would create some contrast and would allow you to take a blue wash and use it as shadow from the legs of the sawhorses towards the left corner of the board and the man and table towards the right corner of the board. Sometimes when I make a mistake that I can't really fix to fit what I originally intended, I can change my whole path and go a different direction with the carving, not much that can't be altered to look good! (if you use this idea, remember the shadow will be flat with the floor not following the legs. if you could get familiar with perspective and vanishing points, you would have it made! Don't take any of this advice wrong, we all are in awe of what you are able to do with such reduced eyesight! God bless you!