Pointers on Drawing ALL sides of a Pattern

[PeRaReed]

Hi - My husband and I are new to woodcarving and to this forum.
We both are artists and decided to give this a try but we are wondering
that same ole question that's
been asked before ... Any EASY way to take a (side-view)
drawing and make it into the front and back that match as well?

Am Adding a Photo of my 1st Carving (camel) I want to do - Sorry this
is just a quick Photobucket (eyecamera) shot ... and the BENT leg was

...just thrown in there ... if I do that .. there will be two bent legs, but I think since this is my first
one ... I'll stick with four straight legs. This isn't the final drawing ... I know I have to add the
tail and change a couple of things, just wanted an opinion on the basic front to side design. Can anyone tell me if they think this front to side pattern will work??? I'll have to cut it from pine first to make sure things line up I guess.

Also ... What's your favorite softer wood for carving an entire Walking
Stick??

ANY Pointers would be so very much appreciated ... including software ... haven't found a Mac version yet that will do what I'm hoping for it to do! But still looking!

THANKS!!!
Peggy & Randy

[Mark Dellinger]

Peggy and Randy,

First let me say hello and welcome. Good to have you with us. I will give you my teo cents, but I am sure that you will get some more informed answers. When I do most of my caricatures I onlly use the side view patterns and then on other occassions I will use the front only view and there are those times when I will cut out both front and side views.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

[Claude]

Welcome to the forum!

If all you have is a side view, there is not software that can create a front view for you. "Wetware" is about the only thing that works... (the brain)...

You can modify the aspect of a photo with iPhoto. For example, if you have a photo of a tall thin Santa, but want it as a short fat one, you can use iPhoto to change just the vertical size. You can also change color to B&W, increase or decrease the brightness and contrast, etc. Preview is also good for this - resizing, aspect change, color change, hue, brightness, contrast, etc.

If you really want more, then you'll need to spend some money on PhotoShop...

You can buy basswood blanks for walking sticks. For native stuff growing wild, here in Virginia, it would be Yellow (tulip) Poplar. There are also lots of hickory, maple, black walnut sticks growing all over the place, although these are harder woods than basswood or poplar.

Claude
Apple computer user since 1979...

[Eddy-Smiles]

I'll second Mark and Claude's response! A graphite pencil for the second view and Yellow (Tulip) Poplar makes great walking sticks and canes.

[PeRaReed]

Thanks for all the tips and help ... I won't EVER use a photo ... that's not my style ... gotta
do everything in MY design ... not anyone else's ... that's the artist in me.

I do have PhotoShop and Illustrator ... I'm an Illustrator person, but I don't think PhotoShop
has the magic skills I'm hoping for either!!!

And we do plan on cutting off as much as possible with the scroll saw with a front and side
view ... I'm an impatient artist (Peggy) and so ... I hope I can be a patient carver!!!

[Mitchell]

Your drawing looks fine.

I'd suggest only trying to cut out the side view with a saw and then drilling a hole down between the legs from the front/back. Especially since the overall pattern is relatively thin.

Also, try to keep the feet connected until last - this will give some support and help prevent breaking the legs when carving them.

[Claude]

Good advice from Mitchell!

To make the legs stronger, you could orient the wood so the grain runs vertically, which would make the legs much stronger.

Claude

[mpounders]

You might look at Lynn Doughty's videos of carving a horse. His method cutting the body in half and carving the legs on one side would apply to your carving. Here's a link Carving a Cowboy's Horse - Part 1 - Laying Out The Body on Vimeo

[PeRaReed]

WOW - wonderful advice from all of you!!! Will definitely check into each post and
the videos!
Thanks So Much!!!
P&R

[Scott Hagerty]

Wow, if I could draw I might be able to offer some pointers! I'd say with the drawing you have you'll do just fine. The only time I have run into trouble with two sided patterns like that is if the head is turned or cocked to the side. I just can't wrap my feeble mind around the cutting out and carving that way.