Predesign, How much?

[jartzh]

Before I start a new piece, I really dont have the slightest Idea of what the piece will look like. I have an idea of what I am trying to do of course, but I just let it flow the wood. I like to rough out the piece with a rough tool (chainsaw) so that I have to work around the wood and the results of the chainsaw(uneven sides,...). I have had people give me a figureen and tried to duplicate it and judged it compared to the figureen. This didnt work. I do best when I just throw the figureen away after I rough it out and start pulling the figure from the wood. This way I am surprised as anybody as what the final product is. The problem is that I never know when its complete.

Anybody else want to share how they create out of a chunk of wood?


Basically on the bottom 2 poll answers, you dont have a model at all, just a bunch of reference photos and some mental image to start with.

[doris]

usually i do have a very strong image in my head of what i want achieve. i collect reference images (or make fotos) if needed for particular parts, make drawings from different angles and particular areas what interest me to fix image in my mind, but i dont do a model (tried, but i seem be more happy with making drawings only), and i try hard to achieve best possible match from my image in mind and what the carving will be. a few times i just started carving from a general idea, and let the piece develop as i carved. this is fun, but to me, more planning ahead gives in the end more satisfactory results (and is more struggle on the way too)... don´t know which i should check in the poll, the first option is closest to how i carve, but i have no model, just drawings, and image in my head...so i guess i vote first option

[susieq]

Some pieces are strictly carved from almost scratch. I make up details as I go along. With pieces I have made a pattern for, cut out the blank and try to go by my sketch, I still wind up adding or changing details as I go along. You never know when divine inspiration for a detail will hit you and it's best to go with it when it happens.....

[hruukki]

I'm one to jump in at the deep end - mostly. When I started painting with oils, for the first seven years I just painted without having any idea how it should be done. I started finding out only after I got fed up with poor technique, and when my ideas for paintings improved.

Now I did almost the same thing with wood: I spent maybe half a year just carving what I thought might look nice, and similarly started finding out when I saw it was not leading anywhere anytime soon.

I draw sketches since drawing is second nature to me (lucky, I know - but also persistent). Here's my reason: it takes only a few minutes to draw a sketch and leave it somewhere, to be taken up later. I figure if I draw 10-20 sketches of a subject and half of them are trash, I have only lost a couple of hours, tops. If I start a carving and spend a week with it, and it turns out (derogatory term, not suitable for general viewing), I have lost a whole week. But still - I have never made an exact plan yet. For the next piece I will, now that this got brought up. Thumbs Up

I have already found out this about carving: it's great to make beauty just by following a plan. It's relaxing and fulfilling. It feels different from painting, where one has to be on the lookout all the time, and the piece can still turn sour for some esoteric reason. I recommend drawing a lot, though: it's never wasted. It develops the eye.

[Alice in Wonderland]

Doris I had to smile ,did you not say you were a Mathematician this is why you are so detailed in your work, I admire people who are like that ,my husband is like that while I am just the opposite ,I just barge right in lol , it does not always work, I can tell you that.
Alice

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Sometimes one, sometimes the other, but never copying the model/pattern exactly. Not that I wouldn't want to, I just seem to be incapable of it. I'll start with good intentions, but it never works out that way. I guess my preference is to have a general idea of what I want to do they just start cutting away at the block and see what comes out making "design changes (some call them mistakes)" as I go.

[Paul_Guraedy]

On in-the-round carvings I spend a lot of time, and make a lot of changes, on making a clay model. From there I pretty well follow the model; but, I will make minor changes based on the way the model works out when actually carved in wood. I must say however that the model is never to scale and I do not work in the fine details such as feathers, etc. into the clay.

I do far less relief carving; but, even then, prefer to have the design pretty well worked out on paper before I start to carve. I do make far more changes to relief carvings since I don't have an actual 3D model to work from.

[Callynne]

Like Hrrukki, sketching is second nature to me. I have an attache case full of pencils and sketch pads. Anytime we go anywhere I grab it so I can sketch while hubby drives. I do the front view sketch of my ideas, later, when I'm ready to carve I will do up the other sides.

Except for very minor things, what I carve looks like what I've drawn. I have a completely formed idea in my minds eye and see it completed before I ever start.

I regret that I don't work in clay.....I have all the stuff to do that and I know it would help get more 'flow and movement' into my pieces but I'm far too impatient to get to the 'real' thing. I can only hope that time and practice brings that to my work, time will tell! Deborah
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[Ashbys]

If , I do a free design, usally walking sticks, tree's there is no pattern just an idea. If I am doing work for somelse, design, pattern , approved layout, complete layout, pattern board if necessary , model if necessary .

Wood doesn't talk to me. It takes the form I want it to. Some pieces are more prone to special design, but the wood is always second thought, first it the piece.

Ash

[Canopener]

Really good question, and I must say that I admire those of you that can sketch or work in clay. I can draw the basics, but clay just never worked for me cause it won't stay still. I rely on piles of referance material and often use a mirror and sometimes props to get my proportions.
My current project will be a wedding gift for my niece and I started working on it a few years ago. I wanted a young girl sitting on the moon, spreading stars, kind of like the Miller beer logo, so I was forced to buy some beer [only to get the artwork, you understand] and think things out. Then I saw Shawn Cipa's moon, that would work, got the book and carved a mock up for the moon. Then I saw a nude womans figure in Chip Chats that would fit my needs so I carved that, but I definately had to put some clothes on her; overalls would do, but she could keep her bare feet. The hair must be right and gently blowing in the breeze, so I have lots of hairy scrap wood laying around and next will be the perfect star which will take at least 2 tries. Then I will carve the final piece to the size I want, put it together, and get the paint right. I some times agonize over the right shade of color, painting swatches over and over, until it suits me. I really do not consider my self a good painter, but people seem to like it. Oh Yeah, I always seem to consider the base at the very last minute; Yikes!
My point, or process takes a lot of time but it works for me.
Jim