First Post/First Greenman

[LynneLucas]

Hello, as my title suggests this is my first post and first greenman. I am hoping to get help from some more experienced carvers. Although I have gone ahead and finished this piece with tung oil, I am really not satisfied with it. Should I move on to the next one or try to fix it? I was trying to make a somewhat sorrowful greenman-actually older with brittle leaves. I think he has turned out much younger looking. My skills don't quite match my ideas yet.
I am wondering if I have enough wood to make the face appear more 3-dimensional. The nose especially appears to flat to me. Anything else stand out-that needs to be worked? I really appreciate the feedback as I am trying to learn on my own!
Lynne

[AlArchie]

This is just my observations, Lynne and I wouldn't try to tell you how to change this....it looks good from the front, and that is where relief carvings are viewed from.

Us old guys tend to have some "crows feet" around the outside corners of our eyes, and this guy doesn't. It looks to me like you have pretty well achieved the aged look you were after, but adding a few wrinkles and creased to the facial structure could enhance that a bit more.

Some downward sloping crows feet might help.


There are also no furrows in the brow and forehead area....the older we grow the deeper these get.

Say, instead of listining to me, why don't you PM either Mark Gargac or Susan (L.S. Irish) They are some excellent carvers of facial structure and could probably give you better ideas than me.

Al

[Ashbys]

Lynn,
I wish my first greenman came out as well.

You still have a lot of wood that you can cut if the perspective side view photo is correct. But you can highlight it by increasing the undercuts along the edge of the leaves to make the shadows deeper.

You could also vein the leaves to give more life to them.

But for a first it is good. The choice is yours , I am sure others will have opinions as well ,

whatever you chose welcome to the boards .

Ash

[LynneLucas]

Ash and Al=Thanks for the suggestions. I will give them a try!
Lynne

[Irish]

Hi Lynne, Welcome to the forum!

He is just great! I love the grain that is showing thoughout the carving. You eyes are very well set into the work and his nose and upper lip stand nicely proud. Great job.

I like Garry's suggestion about a few undercuts to accent the beautiful leaf work you already have done. And Al's crow feet lines would be a great addition.

The one change I would make is in the placement of the pupil of his left eye. I snatched your photo and reset the one eye so you can see the change. His right eye pupil is wonderfully placed in the center of the lid but the left eye is slightly close to the nose. Just recut each eye pupil a little larger to correct the one side.

If this is your first greenman I am really excitied to see what you will be carving in just a few months.

Susan

(Standard Disclaimer - Take what you want and throw the rest away )

[LynneLucas]

Susan,
Thanks for taking the time to reply! I found your book very helpful during the planning stages. I see what you mean about the eye. I will try to correct it.
Lynne

[Mottles]

Hi Lynn, looks like your getting some good suggestions so I'll just say HELLO and say keep up the good work.
Kathy

[LynneLucas]

Hello to you too, Kathy! I enjoyed viewing your website. I have a fondness for pastels as well. I like how you combined colour with your reliefs. I will have to keep that in mind.
Lynne

[LynneLucas]

Just in case anyone is interested...Here are some photos of how I re-worked the greenman. I fixed the eyes and leaves some. The leaf thread in the other forum was very helpful. Comments and suggestions are welcome. I'm ready to move onto something else but I'm sure there is another greenman in my future.

[Bartster]

lynne,

the greenman man looks great, you are a fast learner, i like the nose on this one better, and the leaf detail.


bart