Robe, coat folds

[catbird]

I am looking for a tutorial on how to carve the folds in clothing. I want mine to look realistic. Any help would be appreciated.
Catbird

[mark yundt]

Folds and wrinkles are a tall order only because there are approximately 10 different ways these things happen in clothes.
There is a book called Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery that will show how to DRAW them,,which in itself can be very handy. As far as carving them they basically become a series of hills and valleys ,,done with a variety of chisels such as V's and deep U shapes. Then a series of others to make smooth transitions. I know this doesn't really help as a tutorial might.
One thing I will do ,,besides consult this book,,is if I am doing a swag for instance I'll actually take a variety of cloth,,hang it or drape it in the way I intend to carve something. Then I have a good model for what really happens in the movement of the cloth.
Same if I'm doing clothing or robes on statuary. I'll wrap myself in cloth,,in the position of the statue,,photograph it,,then use that for my reference. And one time ,,early on,,I was stumped on how to do a robe . At mass I watched the Priest in how his robe was hanging,,how it folded as he moved his arms,,approached him after mass and asked if he would pose,,with that particular robe ,,and let me photograph him. It worked well. Actually piqued his interest and I got work from him...Ha,,a side benefit! And I'm sure just as you're sitting there now,,there are folds and wrinkles in your own cloths that show you what to do.
Just recently I photographed my own drapery in my living room as it fell in the way I was doing a carving.
Once you have the model,,You simply follow the hills and valleys..the ridges and creases and recarve them as a copy machine would. If you look closely,,and follow the way the folds,ridges,hollows appear and disappear,,you should end up with a fairly convincing look.

[A Willburger]

Hi Catbird, I have the same book as Mark it is a very good resource book. It is called Dynamic Wrinkles And Drapery by Burne Hogarth and the publisher is Watson-Guptill Publications/New York.

Andy

[Ron T]

Hi Catbird,

I'm trying to do the same, but I'm approaching it the wqay Mark says, just draping cloth the way you want it on the carving. Sounds easier than it is.

[catbird]

Thanks Mark, Andy and Ron. I have seen that book on some websites and thought it might be what the real artists use. I like the idea of taking the pictures. I will get the book as well and just keep practicing until I get it.
It makes me feel a lot more confident getting advice from you guys.
Thanks A Million
Catbird