Texture Books?

#1 08-14-2003, 10:06 PM

The good news - I've finished the roughing out stage of my first relief piece ever! :

The bad news - I've hit a wall. :-/

You see, I'm having problems figuring out what textures to use for the various nature elements, and cannot for the life of me figure out how to make the few that are in the book I'm using (it's vague and full of contradictions). I'm willing to practice and experiment, but I don't even know where to begin! I've been fiddling around with scrap wood, but can't seem to come up with any variety.

My question - does anyone have a recommendation for a good book that has a focus on textures for landscapes in relief?

Thanks so much!

#2 08-14-2003, 10:57 PM

I don't know of a book but you can experiment with a piece of scrap wood and use anything in sight! It is amazing what you can come up with...if you have a dremel or foredom, you have an anormous amount of bits to choose from, you can use a kitchen fork...a electric engraving tool does an interesting texture....an ice pick, an awl....any number of things, just practice on a piece of scrap first!

#3 08-15-2003, 01:45 AM

Brite eyes,I,m no expert on relief carvings,having only done a few myself,but where I turned for instruction was either
National woodcarving school tutorials at www.2carve.com
or www.carving patterns.com Both sites have very good beginner instruction.Good luck and keep those chips flying.
Mark

#4 08-15-2003, 07:21 AM

David Bennett of Flex Cut tools has some great ideas for giving texture to your carving.

http://www.flexcut.com/

The carvings you see in the Flex Cut adds are his. He uses a rotary tool and burrs to achive his life like textures. I have both is book and video which has helped me a great deal.

For a simple punched texture Lee Valley tools has a great stamping set

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...mp;ccurrency=2

Good Luck
Dale

Captain_Bandaid · #5 08-16-2003, 07:02 AM

Texture in relief carvings are often suggested but not actually carved into the piece. Trees at a distance need not be carved with realistic bark, for instance. Too much texture clutters the carving anyway. Remember that the carving is supposed to 'trick' the eye into providing familiar shape, depth, and texture where there really is none. If you plan to paint the carving, painting in the texture is often sufficient to accomplish the 'suggestion'.