rough cuts

[AAC5721]

I know alot of places that you can buy rough cuts. there are also books that give you rough cut patterns but is there any information about the theory behind how to take a cartoon from paper to a rough cut? I would like to use some of my own designs and take them to 3d in wood but not sure the transition process.

[Mitchell]

I draw stick figures to get my basic design ideas.

It is helpful to have a LITTLE understanding of anatomy to get the proportions right.

A good method (for those not artistically inclined) is to use a camera and take a picture of someone in the poses that you want to carve. Be sure to get pictures from front and side at 90 degree angles. You also need to be sure that you are taking from the same distance at each angle. From there, you need to make a few reference points to be sure the side and front match up when making the pattern. I don't actually use this method - instead just taking one photo and then drawing the other view to match.

Another popular method is to use clay to actually make a 3D "go-by" before carving.

PS - I moved to the "General Carving" forum so that the posts will not need approval before being visible.

[AAC5721]

But how do you take a cartoon drawing oe a character and lay out a pattern to carve it out, in the past I have free hand carved but am rarely happy with the way it turns out. I have seen character carvings and am interested in learning this style carving but not sure how to take my cartoon illustration from paper to wood.

[Eddy-Smiles]

AAC5721... Try doing a search for past threads here on this forum. Last year or so we has a thread going on this very subject and someone came up with a simpified orthographic projection method to take a 2D drawing to 3D.