I have finally been able to get my computer, camera and connection to website done so that I could display some of the work I have done this summer. I am posting these in hopes that I could get some critiques and suggestions. I have done all of these from patterns I found in carving books or on the web and none of them are my original idea. In most instances the original carving may not recognize these as having been developed from his pattern but that is due to my inability to carve exactly what I see in a drawing and the best that I could do is an approximation. Thanks I hope this works.
IMG]http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL755/2598799/5172952/65995439.jpg[/IMG]

[jamesfa]

greyhair- unfortunately your link does not work
try typing it again.

Ok lets try this one more time.
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...mp;uid=2598799

[AlArchie]

Carvings look pretty darn good to me! You might work on painting techniques a little. Very little is ever one solid color. faces are mixes of flesh tones, pinks, light tans, grays and whites. Same with hair....brown hair is not one color brown, but mixes of dark and light, some yellow highlights, gray and even white. Recessed areas are somwhat darker than the highlighted areas. Learning to shade takes a little practice, but really pays off in overall appearance of the finished carvings.

Try laying on your base colors first tnen 'dry brush' on highlights and shading. Put some paint on a pallate and then just touch the brush in the paint, and next brush it all out on a paper towel or freezer paper. When the brush is nearly dry, brush the highlights on. they will be very light and blend in almost as if you'd airbrushed the colors on. Experiment with different colors for cheeks, ears, under the chin, and between fingers.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

You have been busy LOL! They are looking good, just keep at it, looks like you are on the right track, just more practice...ha ha...me too! They say you can be on the right track, but if you stop, someone will run over you! LOL

[Colin_Partridge]

Nothing wrong with you carving ability, great imagination. I am not one to really ask although I was a wild life artist before I took up carving. But I have to agree with Al painting should be a smooth transition nothing is one solid color. As Al said put on your base coat and then transition it so that it looks natural. I never paint my carvings except one santa I did and I think it all come's with repetition. I always tell my grandson practice make perfect. I really dont like the high gloss finish on carvings to me it makes them look plastic. Greyhair these are just my opinions and just food for thought. I like your carving just fine you definatly have your own style. I am not critisising just offering my opinion for what its worth. But is you like them and everyone else likes them that way then leave good enough alone.
Colin

For my efforts today i have a new cowboy, and a brand new bandaid... for my little finger...


http://www.picturetrail.com/thomp

started setting cowboy after lunch stopped the bleeding about supper , finished the critter about 7pm..

this oldcharter appears to have been camping on the trail,
or possibly thrown from his pony..

left fist in front of face right hand reaching for side arm... (not fully finished) dont know if i should paint him or not...

can i get ideas here.
thomp

Hi Don,

the carvings are great! you might try to get them a bit more round, a good hint I heard once was standing in a corner, your nose will touch the corner and cheeks the walls. Not sure if it's the pics or the finish but the gloss seems tohigh... I prefer a matte finish.

May your carvings never look like the designers (unless you do the designer and then only you will know ) that is what makes your work your own! thanks for sharing!

Dave


Thomp,

I'm diggin' the cowboy, it would look good painted or not. I like some of the other stuff on you PT as well... I like how you see things in the wood! You might want to start a new thread with this post so idiots like me can keep things straight... Bleed no more

Dave

Thanks DaveE, \

as you suggested..

A New topic 'I like how you see things in the wood!'
just completed if i got this thing figured out.
i think i even got a photo link attached properly..

[hr]
[sub]sorry for the mispellings,
its just real hard to type properly with all these bandaids on.... [/sub]