[nadcarves]

The other half of the Grumpy old men duo came over to check out a relief carving I am laying out...My plan is to add wood, and really create a dramatic illusion of depth and distance..First thing he says, "You can't add wood to a relief carving". I take my best defensive attitude, and say,"Why not?" He says, "Not allowed". "Who says?" " Well, everyone knows that you don't add wood to a reief carving....."""" I love to argue with this guy, it's like shouting down an empty well..And, he feels the same way..........My premise is that the work is the work ,and there are no rules on limiting what you can do...If adding wood is going to work, do it.. Has anyone heard where this little bit of restriction was created? And, has anyone heard of the "no wood added "rule being used in competition? Having to carve down 4 inches of wood transends crazy,,it's totally insane,,not to mention expensive,,cordially NAD

[AlArchie]

Hey, Nad, if you want to do it, DO IT! If things get really sticky semantically, call it an "assemblage carving" and see who can argue with that!

Al

[Dan C]

ummmmm.... so if you can't add wood to a relief carving, does that mean you can't glue 2 boards together side to side to get the width you need? Or 2 boards the same size together to get the thickness you need? Who makes up these silly rules? I don't think so. You do what you need to do and what makes sense. It's your carving. No need to buy into someone else's crazy rules.

Dan C.

[Irish]

For what it's worth ... I have never heard this one before!
Yes, you can add wood to a relief carving and string for sailing masts, wire for fences and you can even add little cloth flags in soldier's hands if that's what YOU want to do.

Relief means that the carving is worked in a 2-dimensional approach. Only the face of the board is worked so you are working with height and length unlike 3-d carving where you are working five of the six faces of the board - all four sides and the top.

Susan

[squbrigg]

Add away sonny! Doesn't mean doodly squat! Carving is creating, so create away to your hearts content.

There are all kinds of folks who impose there so called rules ...... I'm not sure why they do it, but maybe it's because they didn't think of it first? Or maybe they aren't as good as you are, so they have to find fault! Or perhaps they are just constipated and need to give their head a shake! Rules ........... no rules in my carving. Innovation and immagination!!!

Bob

[Ashbys]

Sounds to me like he was just having fun. I see nothing wrong with adding wood, or even 3-d carved figures or items to a relief. Some one even said a relief carving had to be a flat backed piece. Nope don't believe that either.

Relief carving to me is more about the way you do your carving. If my cuts can only be made from one side I am doing relief , if I am cutting from all sides at the same time then I am doing In the round carving.

Ian Norbury is a master at combining the 2 forms together . Look at his web site, it has been upgraded and changed , the tips and hints he offers now is really worth looking at. They are mini videos where he shows how he adds wood to a project. Just a few carvers that add wood ..
Bill Judt
Ian Norbury
Chris Pye ..
so all I can say is , I'll take thier company and carvings any day of the week .

[Lynn O. Doughty]

My answer to them would be to "Don't let that door over there hit your behind on your way out!" What kind of world would it be if we couldn't occasionally join two pieces together?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I agree with Lynn.....I think this character didn't have a clue...you sure he was even a woodcarver? If he was, undoubtedly a lousy one and extremely jealous.......if you feel froggy, jump, forget what people tell you.

[Old_Gord]

Hmm adding wood eh!
I think if my memory serves me right that Dave Bennet(sp) of Flexcut fame does it in a video called something like "Relief Carving in a different light" and guess who else added pieces to his masterful carvings, Grinling Gibbons. Guess it might just be another one of those noncarver's perceptions...is that carved from one piece of wood? .
Now that doesn't mean some woodcarving competition judge somewhere won't disqualify your piece if you do add wood.
It just means addng pieces has been an acceptable practice by many different woodcarvers but there can always be an exception taken by some folk.

.

OG

[Coffeeman]

My perspective is very simple, I'm the artist creating this particular piece and in doing so, feel free to add a piece of wood, use what tool does the job, and even now and then, break out a little sandpaper too. Go for it! Bill