Help with a frog carving

[timbo2410]

Hello to everybody. I'm rather new here but I thought that somebody might just be able to come to my aid. I am rubbish at drawing but seem to do ok by eye when carving. Now I want to do a really nice frog (Tree frog) but I just cannot find a suitable drawing, picture or pattern of one to draw on my block of wood. Can anybody help? This is an example of what I mean. I think this is just stunning. I don't want to copy it at all, but I do like it. I carved the wife a mushroom out of Oak and I can see this little critter hanging off the side of the cap. Can anybody help?

[susieq]

Hi Timbo,
I should just go out to one of our garden sheds, grab one and send it to you but it probably wouldn't survive the trip...lol. I needed a shovel yesterday and when I opened the shed door, one jumped out onto my arm. Our garden sheds are tree frog condos....and gecko condos too....

Have you tried to google images of tree frogs? I know they have to be out there. Probably some good close up pics too. Mine are always hiding behind a bag of fertilizer or on the back of the ladder in the shed, as a rule. I could try to send you a pic but it wouldn't be as good as what you could probably find on line. If you don't have any luck, let me know and I will see what I can come up with for you. Tree frogs are one thing we don't have any shortage of here.....multiple varieties too. The one that jumped on me yesterday was one of our larger, exotic imports, a Cuban tree frog. I gently shooed him off of my arm, back into the shed. I no idea how many live in there but it's a bunch.

[timbo2410]

haha they are always around when least expected. I've googled for days anddays and still can't come up with what I'm looking for. I need a very clear 360 degree view so I can outline the block of wood I've got. I even started a 3D model to try and come up with the design I wanted. But by the time I get that done I think I will be toooooo old to be able to carve

[susieq]

You need a top view and a side view and maybe a front view just for carving reference. You need graph paper and then shrink or enlarge (which ever you need) the images to fit the same dimensions using the graph paper. I think this will give you what you need for a pattern. I know that my little buddies would not sit still for me while I put them on a turn table and rotated it while snapping pics...lol. What you can't find an exact picture of, you can sketch. Trust me, it doesn't have to be a great drawing...just to give you the outline you need in the correct dimensions you want. Some closeups of the feet just for reference while carving, would be nice too.

Don't be afraid to just "jump in there" (no pun intended) and do it. You will be amazed at how well it turns out...really.

[timbo2410]

hehe I found that out while doing the mushroom for the wife. It just seemed so easy but then it's a mushroom .... not a more complicated object

[susieq]

You need to be confident that you can tackle this. One thing that did occur to me is to make sure the wood grain is running lengthwise on the frog, not up and down...the toes need the wood grain running lengthwise or they will be extremely fragile and snap off easily. Nothing else on the frog would be delicate enough to worry about...

[timbo2410]

I had thought about that but not from the aspect of the toes. That really is good advice. I was thinking purely from the finished look and not about the structure. I am also using some fine grained timber that is quite soft. I have a choice of Apple wood or something that looks like Silver Birch. I think that will make it easier to carve and be a little more forgiving.

[sebastiaan56]

Try googling tree frog anatomy, you will end up with scientific drawings.

I assume that is a netsuke, it is deleriously good

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome. It's nice to have you here with us. There is so much to learn here and a lot of great people here to help you. Did you do an image search of tree frog. I did and found lots.

[timbo2410]

I did and there are loads on there, I've just got to sit down and see if I can get the same frog in the same pose from all sides ... then I can trace them out and then mark the wood accordingly ... why can't I draw ??? I can carve by eye or mould clay, but draw !! Not on your life ..