[Thomp]

When i carve some new subjects i get caught up in the supporting cast, that would make the carature better by setting the scene in the display case and wind up with a large Diorama of the subject and 10 or 12 carcatures carved...

is there any rules on how to limit my creativeness? if i was to enter my work into a carving show one day..

thanks

Why would you want to limit your creativeness just to enter in a show? This brings up the question - are shows, with all their rules, actually detrimental (unintentionally) to creativeness?

Remember; When you submit a 'group' you will usually be judged by the ' worst' of the group. Big Al

...I think you have to evaluate what you want from it, a ribbon or the satidfaction of presenting it the way you would like... :-/ I think what it takes to win a ribbon is not necessarily what each of desire when creating a scene...

...in a contest i entered last year I mounted the carving on it's base in a three quarter view which I felt was the view I wanted the judges/audience to see, when photographs of the carving came out though, the photographer had taken it upon himself to turn the carving for a full frontal picture which
is not what i desired :-[
We cannot know how judges will view our carvings but as artists I am focusing on having viewers eyes drawn to where I intend ...I think you can have as many carvings in a diorama as you'd like so long as it doesn't detract from the subject matter...(I did notice that at this years CCA's that group carvings took the BOS awards...)

Good question.....

I don't think limiting a scene would necessarily mean limiting your creativity. If you are concerned that a scene is too busy in the early stages, you can actually add to your creativity by figuring out ways to relay what ever point you have in a more simple manner.

Larger carvings with multiple figures are more interesting....just because there is more to look at. However, I think that a scene can be too 'busy' and important details can be overlooked by a casual observer. Judges may be able to pick up on those details however.

While I think that a Diorama may be a very good way to put a lot of extra carvings in a scene, you could be 'overdoing' it for a competition. As Big Al said above, the worst piece may be judged as a limiting factor as much as the grand scheme is a positive.

Either way, I recommend carving what you enjoy doing first. If you feel that it is worthy of putting in a competition, or just want to see how it gets judged, go for it.

If you are wanting more recommendations on creativity how to 'limit' it specifically for a competition, here is what I think:

A scene should try to relay a message, not just be a group of carvings. If your individual pieces don't contribute, or if you can relay that in a more simple manner (being creative!) then you should keep it simple. You can add accessories or 'habitat' to support the scene, but don't do something that will take away from the message.

Whew.......

[Thomp]

Thanks for the support and the replys folks..


about winning ribbons, compititions and such,
as i do not intend to chase the carving circut around the country..
im simply not that good.

I'm my own worst critic, as we all probobaly are, and usualy i wind up tossing my blood soked failures in the fireplace..

but that don't mean i wont be harranged into entering some of my things in a local contest by my wife or kids....
[hr]
Carving subjects get hard for me to pick out 'Whats Next?',
I draw from experiances,.
i hav'nt seen too many indain cheifs in full warpaint or dress, so it would be a far cry for me to carve one,

but a racoon squriel or bird,
heck a slice of bread will bring them subjects.. running.. on a trip to the zoo.....

i find it impossible to carve one without the other, and while im carving the first one im thinking of the 8th, 9th and 19th.. i have to stop and just sketch them out to get them out of my mind before i forget them..
'Old folk's got them kind of problems..' ha!

other days i got carvers block, or (CRS . can't remember syndrome )

but when the dam breaks i carve the whole family .. cook stove, pots, potbelly, sofa, and on and on.. and each support the other.

like im supplying a dollhouse..

i have seriously considered setting up backrounds for them, but i put the kibosh on that idea,

as it would'nt fit in a cigar box for storage..

I thought their might some sane and simple rule as to how many items a diaroma should support i guess.

I agree that too many would or could be confusing or distract from the intented subject..

thanks again