work in progress

[feb]

Hi all, as you know i try to do a lot of differant carvings and indian portraits that I make up the faces but I have never tried to do a real bust- portrait of a real person that everyone knows. This is my first attempt and I think you know him. Well I got this far and am scared to go any further for now. Let me know what you think and any suggestions you might have.

Feb PS. Thankyou very much.

[Iowa Carver]

Looking forward to your progress. Your looking good!

Corey

[Jim OH]

Hey Feb,
Looks like ya have a pretty good start! You may have then already but I try to work off a profile and front view both. If ya can get both views the same scale you can set up a grid to locate prominate features and make sure things line up just as they are on the pictures you are working from. Hope that makes sense;O).
Jim OH

[Mark N. Akers]

Feb:
You are definitely on the right track,great job on the "King".

[feb]

Jim, I don't have a profle of this picture and the carving is more of a relief than a full bust. It is only 2 1/2" thick THANKS AND THANKS ALSO TO YOU MARK.

fEB

[Ron T]

Wow, Feb. You're off to a good start. Don';t be like me and stop. I tend to do that when I get stuck.

[doris]

wow, feb, that is a great start ! nice solid foundation :-)

first, here is a link (google images)

elvis presley - Google Bilder
that leads you to a lot (!) images of elvis, sideview included. you need tons of images to get a likeness...i would recommend to download as much as your internet connection allows you...

you are doing fine, my portraits were in 2.5''thickness too. thats all you need for a highrelief portrait...

you asked for tips, so i like share what i would do :
print out several of the images of elvis, from different views. you really need SEE how he looked. not from just one view. try print out the images, that the face is same size as you are carving (cant see how big your wood is, how big is it ?) or at least, that the faces on the prints are all same size, and say, for example, half as big as you are carving... now, not only look, but measure distances. for example, the height of his head, the width of the head across the eyes. are they correct in your carving ? (looks to me your head is a tad bit too long ? cannot tell, the camera might have distorted)...

what is exactely right is that you find the big shapes first. go on like this, dont think of details... now you have (measure, measure, measure ! ;-)) the basic shape of face, and placement of brows, nose and eye. now look the sideview fotos, or the halfside views, to see if you carved the basic shape of the nose correctly from sideview. if not, change it now. then, try tackle the mouth-mound next. you have chosen a pic as reference which shows elvis with a very typical expression, this is on several of the images my link leads you too, so you can see how this mouth-mound shape is. dont cut the mouth itself yet. leave that until you are sure (not just look, but measure, dont forget...) you have the shape for the mouthmound right. very important is the groove under the mouth, it defines that shape most together with the smile lines ...

oh, i better stop, but i hope my saying gives you idea how to go on. ...dont be afraid to cut further, you are definitely have laid a good foundation, now it needs a little courage to go on. you can do that, your start shows it. keep carving,.... and it will become a great portrait :-)

[feb]

Ron, I can't stop it's for my companion and she knows I'm doing it. If it don't come out right I'll name him Close lol.

Doris, thankyou so much for all your help. I do have an Elvis photo album and a calender but i will checkl out that site. I know i messed up his nose a little already Thanks again.

Feb

[doris]

you are welcome...but dont think you have messed the nose already, feb. its still very early in your carving. if say the angle of your nose is wrong, go ahead and correct it. you will be amazed how little wood you need remove around it to correct it....good luck, and please share more when you feel ready for it...

[feb]

Well I started to work on Elvis again. I had to wait for him to stop shackin, no really was afraid of goofing up. i did some more shaping of the face and hair, kinda set in the mouth and started work on the eyes but i think they should be squinted a little more and i'm not sure of what type of eye to use (not painted) I9'll be doing more work soon. Let me know what you think,. Feb