Carving wrinkles

Blake Lunsford · #1 10-22-2007, 06:58 PM

In that other magazine there was an article from Ol' Don about carving wrinkles into clothing. This seems to be a difficult task for me on my santas. I was hoping some of you may want to talk about how you decide placement for wrinkles, the tools you use to get the look you are going for, and how you make them blend into the piece of clothing that they are on. This doesn't seem to be a topic that many have discussed on here, but it appears as though some of you have it, and some of us don't! Can some of the caricature carvers and santa carvers discuss wrinkles in clothing and the tools you use and steps you take to make them look realistic?

Thanks!
Blake

Jim OH · #2 10-22-2007, 08:13 PM

Blake,
I use a #11 gouge to get the shape of the wrinkle and a v-tool to deepen the wrinkle. The v-tool cut is cut in the trough of the #11 couge cut. As for placement, your decision. Your decision might be helped by reading something like a book called "Carving Dynamic Wrinkles" or getting someone to model the pose you want and observing how the folds look in real clothing look.
Jim OH

Claude · #3 10-22-2007, 08:29 PM

Blake:
I cheat!

If it's a Santa wearing his tradtional red and white outfit, I put on a jacket and assume the pose I want the Santa in; then my wife walks around me and photographs me from all sides. I can print the photos and see exactly where the wrinkles go. For old world style Santas wearing a long robe, I have my wife wear her long wool coat and I walk around her taking photos.

Claude

Anthony Filetti · #4 10-23-2007, 08:15 AM

Blake,
I agree w/ Jim on the book. You might not want to purchase the book but rather check with your local library to see if they have a copy. What the book teaches you is the different type of wrinkles (e.g. tension) and the physics behind how they are formed. Once you understand the different types you'll know how wrinkles should be placed in each location on your carving. Then its just a matter of practicing the cuts.
Another link that will give you some basic information:

http://www.drawing-cartoons.com/clot...-wrinkles.html

Merle Rice · #5 10-23-2007, 08:51 AM

Hey Rocket39, That is a great Link for information, Thanks. Merle

Anthony Filetti · #6 10-23-2007, 11:18 AM

Merle,
Glad to be of service...I explored that link further and it has some great reference material for drawing out designs.

BRIAN D · #7 10-23-2007, 12:43 PM

Thanks for the link Rocket. Looks like excellent study. Brian D.

Canopener · #8 10-23-2007, 12:48 PM

Blake,
You are right this is a tough thing to get right. Thanks to all about Dynamic wrinkles, good stuff. Claude has a good idea, but my wife won't stand still for it [pardon the pun] so I have used an old mirror for that kind of thing.
I would like mention my favorite book for trying to figure out how clothes wrinkle or fall on the body; "Master American Woodcarver, Emil Janel" by Ira Weissman and John Matthews. It has been very inspirational on several levels.
Good Luck,
Jim

Anthony Filetti · #9 10-23-2007, 01:08 PM

Jim,
I'm sure it is a great book, hang on to it as a google search shows it out of print and used copies going for $100 (ouch!)

Can you enlighten us a little as to its contents? (the man was truly gifted)

http://www.lakechelanonlinenews.com/...nenews&he=.com

Merle Rice · #10 10-23-2007, 07:32 PM

I have read somewhere that if you get a piece of velvet and drape it over an object you can get a good idea on the way wrinkles fall. I think it was an Airbrush book. Merle