[JesusLovesYou]

I just finished carving this. I tried to give it more depth by setting the trees back a little.

[Mottles]

Hi:
How deep is your plaque and how much of the sky have you carved out. Can you go deeper with the sky area without braking though? I also think it would help to add more depth if you reduced the tree on the viewers right.
It also helps to set depth if you place objects on different planes. Your trees and Chruch are all on the same plane. One tree could have been set back a little, which would put it on a different plane.
I have a friend and fellow painter who always said when putting together a composition their can be only one star. In your case it's the church and every thing else in the composition should come second.
I realize that for this relief it might be to late to make the changes I suggested, but maybe keep what I have said for the next relief.
I do feel you are learning a lot from each one you do. That is the important thing keep doing them and you will improve because you already have come a long way.
Kathy

[JesusLovesYou]

Thanks for the reply. I'll work at that next. I guess I should have put the trees back farther and maybe smaller. I always carve the sky using the full thickness at the top edge and carving down form the top edge. Should I take the edge all the way down to where i stop carving the sky. I appreciate the help. May God Bless You,
Thomas

[Mottles]

Originally Posted by JesusLovesYou

Thanks for the reply. I'll work at that next. I guess I should have put the trees back farther and maybe smaller. I always carve the sky using the full thickness at the top edge and carving down form the top edge. Should I take the edge all the way down to where i stop carving the sky. I appreciate the help. May God Bless You,
Thomas

Hi Thomas:
This is purely my thought and the way I would carve the sky area. I like to take as much of the sky area out as will allow without braking though to the back. Leaving about 1/4 inch thick base to the sky. I would do this at the same level right to where the sky would meet the top of the mountain. Then to add even more depth carve your mountains in various depths as they come forward. So if you have say three mountain ranges. Each one would be a slightly different depth--having as little as 1/8th inch difference as they come forward will also help to add depth to your composition.
Carving your tree's at differenct sizes will help make your carving more interesting and show depth and variety. Draw some idea sketches first of what you want. Draw your composition on paper the same size as your plaque, be happy with it, and then transfer it to your wood using graphite paper. If you don't have graphite paper then take a soft leaded pencil cover the back side of your design. Lay it on your plaque with the leaded side down and trace over your drawn lines. You can use some painter's tape to hold your paper in place while you make your transfer. Your drawing will transfer onto the wood and your set to get carving. I always start by taking of the background first and work forward.
Keep up the good work!
Kathy