rocks

[herbd]

Hi,

Carved an eagle sitting on a rock outcropping. Got any tips or pictures for how to carve realistic rocks?

Herb

[Donsexton]

This is how I carve cobble stone type rocks I don’t have a picture of jagged rocks but they are similar in this way. Similar to carve in that cuts should be deep between rocks you don’t want the rocks to look molded. I hope this helps.

[Paul_Guraedy]

Herb, eagles can, of course, be found perched on all types of rocks. The first thing I would want to know is what do you want as far as rocks are concerned?

Generally, bald eagles are found around water and, if you want to show them in this environment, the rocks would be water smoothed. Goldens are found in just about any type of terrain (within their range).

Here is one of my eagles and the way I handled rocks for this carving. I had a fish in there and the eagle had not returned to a nest, so in my mind it had landed on nearby rocks. This meant that they would be more rounded and smooth. I did want two layers of rocks just for interest. I am carving another (the 3rd) like this and will concentrate a bit more on the rocks....maybe some moss and lichen to show a more moist environment.

I think there is enough leeway to carve whatever type rocks you want. When I get to the rocks, I start by simply running my pencil (no straight lines) over the carving to get horizontals. I then go to the vertticals to finish my grid. Next, I look for rocks that are to symetrical (same size mainly), decide if I want them all one layer (mainly all the same color). If two layers do I want an intrusion of a lower layer or do I want a "cap rock". Lots of erasing! Now that I have basically the layout I want, I look to see if it is too busy (usually too many small rocks), is it interesting without dominating the carving and does it look realistic. Once I have it "laid out" the carving becomes relatively simple. My caution is to be careful that the cracks are not all the same depth.

Thanks for your post, it has made me look at the rocks on this eagle (first one was carved about 10 years ago - this is the 2nd). I see a number of changes I want to make.

[Claude]

Herb:
I can't help with the carving of the rocks, but I noticed at my local Michaels that they had spray cans of "rock" paint. The paint comes out in various little dots of color that make it look like granite, or two or three others. Not in the acrylic paint aisle...I think my Michaels had it near the aisle that has various glues...

Claude

[pallin]

Here are some rocks in a relief I carved of Escher's "Dragon" They are probably meant to look like quartz crystals, but you could say they're french fries! LOL The whole piece is shown in my gallery photos.

rocks.jpg