[woodsca]

well heres my 1st carving of a coyote, please tell me what you think can't get better unless i know what i'am doing wrong.

[AlArchie]

I'm not one of the best relief carvers, but here's a few things I would have done different.

1. Coyotes are really skinny guys and their faces are long and thin. I'd make the mouth a bit deeper, put the ear farther forward on the head and point it back...that's where they put them when they howl. Bring the abdomen farther in and the neck a mite narrower, and the base of the tail thinner.

2. Make the tree trunk a bit thicker and bring the roots forward in the scene, and the foreground BEHIND the tree, or define the foreground a bit to make the tree look farther back in the scene. A knot hole on the trunk would add some interest to the lower part of the tree. Eliminate the shadows under the canopy of the tree where it shows on the hill behind. That hill is too far in the distance to receive any shadows.

Use a small u gouge or veiner to work some structure into the bark.

Looking at it again, I think I'd eliminate that secondary split in the trunk and just run one main section above the two limbs that goes into the canopy.

I scanned you picture in and copied it out in gray scale then made a few rough(very rough) suggested line changes on the carving.

Over all, it's a pretty darn good first attempt.

Al

[Irish]

Hey Woodsca! Yes, I agree, I think you are getting the hang of this

Al has some excellent suggestions that you can work through. But while you do don't lose that beautiful level work that you have captured. The mountain range is well defined from the tree level and the coyote is obviously in the foreground.

Working through the detailing changes that Al has pointed out is important because you are so close to going from a good carving to an outstanding carving!!!!

Susan

[Thor]

I like the way you textured the tree and the colors are nice and bright. Definitely knew it was a coyote too, but I only see them at a distance and hear them a lot at night. Never seen one actually howling.
Very good first carving. Remember to sign it, number it, and keep it forever, because you'll want it as a reference for how much you improve.
Welcome to relief carving. Thor

[Ron Davidson]

I think they covered it all and I think overall you did a pretty good job.
Ron

[Dylan]

Al's suggestions are good ones and not far from what I'll say. First I'll answer your guestion.

Yes, you've done a really good job. If only I could say the same about some of me frist carvings.

Like Al said the coyote needs to be thinner. Take a look at the lines that I've drawn in. Keep in mind that their roughly placed. Also there's no substitute to research. I think that the neck can stand to be shorter on future carvings. Lay back to the ears and deepen to mouth. And I would move the hind foot forward. As it is that foot makes the coyote look turned away from you but the rest of the carving dosen't agree with that. Since you have such thick branches you'll want to use a thicker truck in the future. But for now you could thin down the branches.(black lines)

It's a good carving that will not be hard to perfect.

Dylan

[woodsca]

I wish to thank all of you for your help and will take all you have said into my next carving , again thank you very much.

[Mottles]

Well, I got to the party late as usual, I think for your first relief you have done well. I guess the thing that stands out to me is the 'U' shape of the mouth. The front legs seem a little thin when comparing them to the hind legs (below the elbow). But again it's all practice and agree keep the depth of your levels they are good.
Kathy

[dtoggs]

I like what I see. The coyote looks more like a Austrailian devil dog though. I'm not being atall critical-much,much better than iIcan do.pw