[Iowa Carver]

Lordy, that is some fine work Joy. Awesome and thanks for posting it.

Corey

[Mottles]

Very good Joy, the spots turned out really well, and I like the idea you varied the sizes on both momma and baby. Beautiful eyes, on both. Excellent Job!
Kathy

[doris]

yes, joy, wonderful paintjob you did :-) congratulation ! i once painted a leopard, just the head, so i really know how tedious these spots feel when painting them. you did very well, they look so natural... i like the last foto best, also since the shadows show much better the shapes you carved...
and an odd request...may i see the holder for the relief without the relief, so that i can see how it is constructed ? it looks like a very clever idea, and i always look for ways presenting my work :-)

[Joy]

Thank you, Bob, Corey, Kathy and Doris. I am so pleased that you like my big cats.

Doris the stand is a wooden photo or plate holder. I am wondering if I should paint it black. I originally intended to hang this on the wall. But I used this stand so I could study it from a distance and decided I liked it on the stand on the mantle. I will take a picture when it daylight and post it. You can buy them in any photo dept.

[markken5889]

Outstanding work, Joy. I love how the eyes just seem to pop!

Mark

[Sharon of the Dell]

One word-Wow!...sharon

[susieq]

Hello Joy,
I got to this thread a bit late and just wanted to say "wow". A Jaguar has a very distinct expression and you just nailed it with momma..... the cub is soft and cuddly like all animal babies are. great job. Great painting too. (amen to spots being a pain to paint)

I don't want to hear anymore nonsense from you about being a novice, girl.

[arapsang]

Just logged on after a frantic week of turning (100 bowls and platters for a re-enactment group) and looked for the jaguars straight away.

Congratulations.

As they say the eyes have it! and you have caught that steady, baleful, terrifying glare absolutely.
I don't mind at all if you save the photo for reference -- be my guest. If you need any others just ask.
I'm not sre that soft and cuddly applies to these animals. Later that trip I watched a mother and two cubs kill and eat a gazelle in 10 minutes flat. They're not the sort of kittens you would want on your knee.



Peter

[Joy]

Thank you Mark, Sharon, Susieq and Peter for the wonderful comments. I enjoy painting eyes even though they are still a challenge to carve.

Wow, Peter! 100 bowls and plates. What wood did you use?

You are right....these aren't the kind of kittens you want in your lap.....but I think all babies "look" cuddly.

[arapsang]

Both bowls and platters are turned from English ash.

Peter