Sunflower Relief WIP

Mottles · #21 04-01-2006, 12:57 PM

Dave & Mel:

Thanks for the tip guys--it will be a good exercise to try using acrylic's with your methods too. I like the looks of the carvings that don't have that heavily painted look. I also want to try using gouache opaque watercolor also.
As for treating prior to applying oil paint I use Danish oil for a treatment first.
Kathy

Mottles · #22 04-02-2006, 10:05 PM

UPDATE

Thought I'd share what I've done so far on the sunflower. I have moved on to the stem and leaves. After I get them pared down and shaped I'll return to the pedals and get an overall view of how things look. Hopefully it will be just some refining but I'll certainly want your opinion.
Thanks for all your support and encouragement,
Kathy

Irish · #23 04-04-2006, 08:29 AM

Kathy, That top foreground leaf would be perfect to undercut!

Susan

Dylan · #24 04-04-2006, 08:31 AM

Looking good so far.

Dylan

Mottles · #25 04-04-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish

Kathy, That top foreground leaf would be perfect to undercut!

Susan

Susan, yikkes I don't know if I can do it!!!!!!!! Your saying undercut the whole leaf underside and stem? I'll look it over real good.

ell, as some said no guts no glory...not sure that fits me but sure sounds good.
Thanks for the confidance!
Kathy

Mottles · #26 04-04-2006, 03:33 PM

Thanks Dylan!
Kathy

Thor · #27 04-04-2006, 05:31 PM

Wonderful design, and I love the way it's coming along....
I look forward to seeing more.
Thor

Irish · #28 04-04-2006, 05:58 PM

NO - NO - NO!

I'm not suggesting that you cut the leaf and stem so that the entire leaf/stem is free floating. What I am suggesting is to undercut along the bottom edge of that foreground leaf.

I snitched a copy of your sunflowers. Notice the black arrows along the petals. Notice how those petals have a dark shadow to them. Those dark shadows are created because the walls of the petal are not straight down into the background wood. Instead they are angled back towards the sunflowers.

This makes the top edge of the petal wider than the wood beneath it. That angle, and it doesn't have to be much of an angle, casts those great dark shadows.

Also notice where I added the white line along the bottom edge of that foreground leaf. That's where I would take a v-gouge or my bench knife and angle the wall of the leaf a little to tuck the side under ... to create a dark shadow.

In relief carving we do sometimes carve free standing elements. A blade of grass or a tree branch can be freed from the background. But free standing elements are anchored at two points ... in a free standing tree branch the branch would be anchored at the trunk and again at the leaves. I don't think you have enough room to free stand the sunflower leaf.

Susan

Irish · #29 04-04-2006, 06:02 PM

OK ... in this snitched copy notice where the arrows are. Notice how those petals don't create dark shadows. And ... notice how you can see the side walls of all of those petals.

Straight side walls or wider than the top surface side walls don't cast dark shadows ... They aren't undercut.

Susan

MelNM · #30 04-04-2006, 08:39 PM

Kathy still looking good, its really great having Susan back isn't it.
Mel