What to do first

[aggies]

When carving deep relief, what do you carve first? Do you carve the subject that's furthest away, such as trees and mountains in the background..say behind a deer, or does it matter? Thanks!!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

not much of a relief carver, have only done a few, but have painted many, many, paintings, and you do the background first and work forward......I did the same with the relief. Ice Cream

[Tucson Bill]

The first thing I would do is to go here http://www.carvingpatterns.com and then go to the FREE ONLINE TUTORIALS section and do some research! I suspect all of your questions will be answered.

[squbrigg]

I carve the background first. Leave the parts/areas that you want to detail/shape as a block and then get to them.

Easier to show you than tell you....look at the WIP (Work In Progress) thread and the one I'm doing on the dragon, that will give you one way....not necessarly the right way!!!Smile

Bob

[Ashbys]

When I start a relief carving , the first thing I do is decide on the subject. Then I look at the size of the wood I want to work in. Then determine if I want to work open relief , or framed.

Then I do a simple layout , to match size of the subject to the wood block.

Now to answer your question. NO I do not cut the background first. I do understand that it is suggested to cut the deepest and work out , but I do not. I do not for the simple reason Unlike painting I can not add wood like I can paint. So if I need an adjustment, in the carving and the background work is finished the the work in front has to suffer by giving up depth , or will have to be completly recut if I have to move it back .

What I do do is consider what I think will be the hardest subject of the carving and carve it first if I can. I do this because if I am going to have any major issuses it will be this section of the carving. Then if I need necessary adjustments I can make them and improve my chances of the carving being what I want when finished.

Lets see if this makes sense,
I decide to do a portrait on commission, they want in the background a old farm house with a split rail fence and barn . I do the layout , the artwork , the wood block. Then I cut down to the background and do the back ground work leaving the portrait to last. After a week , the background is finished and I start into the portrait.
Just as I reach the depth for the cheek a beetle hole opens up. It isn't deep but it distorts the cheek. I then test the wood to see how far I need to clear it to recover the cheek. I realise that I can clear the wood if I cut the face a quarter of an inch deeper. But If I do I will lose the perspective of the carving .

Now I have to make a choice, clear the wood and try a repair on the cheek by glueing up the section , which with the finish I have been asked for will not cover, or recut the background , or contact the buyer and tell them , or distort the face and hope they still accept it.

So No I do not cut the background first. But this is my way , and not the way it is normally accepted to be done.

Garry

[Dylan]

I start by making or getting a pattern and then planning the levels of the carving as best a can. Then I cut down to the deepest level and rough out each level deepest to shallowest in turn. After roughing out the whole piece I go back and detail the levels deepest to shallowest again. That's the way I do it most of the time.

Dylan

[GeorgiaCarver]

This is a really interesting post. I move down a layer at a time. I will go say 1/4" do most of the carving. When done I will move back over and do another 1/4" and so on.

Seems there are many ways to do this, never really thought about itSmile

Greg

[Ron Davidson]

After I decide on the subject I have someone transfer it to my wood. I then have them take a small V tool and lay out the background or the deepest part.I take it down to about the required depth. Then I have them do it with the next level and so on. I know it sounds complicated but its a system that works for me. After I get all levels close to their depth I go back to the deepest and finish it all out and the same with all other levels.
Ron

[Ashbys]

I am going to ask a couple of questions . Wink

When you cut down and do the background first , how do you undercut without damaging the background ?

What do you do when you have the levels cut and you make a mistake in the carving , and need to cut it in deeper when it will break the perspective ?

If you do a seven level carving , If you have started at the back and have come forward and then have a breakout on the second level how do you repair it ?

I guess I look at it like mold making. In mold making you have to remove material to get to the depth you need. So if your aready removing the material why would you want to waste time by cutting the deep cuts and then come back for the shallow cuts which you have already been at the necessary levels.

Seems to me it is like being at the front door , and going around the house and comming in the back to open the front door.

Ash

[Kenny_S]

Different methods for different people. Whatever works for you, do it.