[Ashbys]

Kathy ,
I did not mean to give the impression to change the carving, it looks great, I was thinking more of highlighting the center of the flower with a bit of a shadow burn, you have the talent for that , I know I have seen your work.
You have a lot in the carving and very good work for both the flower and the background, but I thought in my opinion it needed an anchor. You know a place to start from and instant lock , but only my opinion.

Your the carver, you have to please yourself and your looking at the real thing were only seeing a picture and it is amazing the difference between the two.

Ash

[ElWoodTroll]

Colors would be appropriate here even if only a light wash was used. the flower on the right should and does draw the focus. But it does get competition from the other flower and background. Making the background softer with less defined edges and the area of focus a little crisper with slightly brighter colors and well defined edges would help the composition IMHO.

[Mottles]

Thanks all, I really feel fortunate to have you all giving me their thoughts and suggestions. I welcome them all and please never feel hesitant to give constructive critique and suggestions for improvement. We all are different in how we look at things and don't always agree on the best approach, technique or skill. What one likes another may not but we all try to be sensative to others feelings. As I'm a new carver it's my plan to be a sponge and learn from those who have been carving a lot longer than I. No matter how this relief comes out I will have learn from it and that is what is important.
I took the relief to our Wood Bee Carvers carvealong today and ask for a critique from one of the relief carvers who I repect his work greatly. He echoed a lot of the things you all have mention. I spent most of the time today taking down some of the thickness, rounding edges and deeping my under cuts. Trying very hard to soften the flower edges. As for the background I will leave the texture as I like the opposition of the textured background against the smooth flowers and leaves. I will give the background a different color stain than the rest of the relief. When I finish with these improvements and before I start burning and painting I'll post an image of the Calla Lily.
Thanks again for your encouragement and helpful suggestions. Your the greatest!
Kathy

[Irish]

Whoa Woman!!!! Blow me away with that one!!!! I love the textured background and I love the dark shadows ... and what is this one, Project five or six .... WHOA!

Susan

[AlArchie]

Kathy, that is most impressive! I love the background, too. When you get around to finishing, give some consideration to watercolors. They impart very subtle hues to your work, letting the grain show through, and can be combined with stain to accent various elements of the carving.

Al

[Ric]

Kathy
Very nice job on this one. I has been great watching your improvemrnt with each project.
Rick

[MelNM]

Way to go Kathy nice work, can't wait to see the finishe carving.
Looks like your really enjoying relief carvings how many is that?

[Mottles]

Hi All, hope you had a safe Memorial Day and many thank you's to those who served in the Armed Forces.

Thank you all for your encouragment it keeps me whacking away at this learning process. If I get a little discourage I just look at all the wonderful reponses and get right back to the task at hand. It's coming along and I hope that your suggestions will show. I should be able to post an image soon.
Let's see Mel I think this is number 5 (1)Buffalo, (2)Antelope, (3)Sunflower, (4)Bear, (5)Calla Lily WIP. Let's see that means I only have 995 to go and maybe I'll get it right!
Al, thank you I will consider watercolor.
Kathy

[MelNM]

Your ahead of me then, I have 3 reliefs done, 997 to go.

[Mottles]

Originally Posted by MelNM

Your ahead of me then, I have 3 reliefs done, 997 to go.

LOL Mel, then you better get busy pard!
Kathy