Take 1

[brian-bailey]

Here is a practice relief carving that I did today for a Bible box that I'm currently working on.

I sketched out the scene on paper and then put the gouges to the basswood. I used a router to hog out the waste.

The whole scene is only 1/8" deep with 3 layers, so each layer doesn't leave much wood to work with.

I brushed on some paint thinner to pop the detail.

Tomorrow, I'll feed the carving through the thickness planner and do it all over.

Eventually, the final take will have some color to complete the scene.

Thanks for looking.

[Simplyme]

Do not understand what you mean you will put it thru the planer?

[Druid]

I think he means to reduce the thickness. It's a very nice job and it's hard to beilive it's only 1/8" deep!

[brian-bailey]

Originally Posted by Simplyme

Do not understand what you mean you will put it thru the planer?

Sorry for the confusion. The planer is just a permanent mechanical eraser (grin). I reuse the board until it gets to thin.

This carving is just a practice piece so I can see the design in wood instead of paper. I've got a few changes that I want to make before I carve the final scene.

On second thought, I think I'll save the practice ones so I can work out my color palette.

Brian...

[Thor]

Lovely example of shallow relief....my favorite type of carving.
The word "practice" surprises me. That one is a keeper.
Christina

[papasar]

Brian,
Beautiful work. Save work and electricity and send me your practice pieces. I'll pay the postage. LOL
Bill K.

[Bill V]

Nice work, I wouldn't say that's a pratice piece , my pratice pieces always fine their way to the trash can, your is a keeper.

Bill V

[Simplyme]

Originally Posted by brian-bailey

Sorry for the confusion. The planer is just a permanent mechanical eraser (grin). I reuse the board until it gets to thin.

This carving is just a practice piece so I can see the design in wood instead of paper. I've got a few changes that I want to make before I carve the final scene.

On second thought, I think I'll save the practice ones so I can work out my color palette.

Brian...

Brian,

Your scaring me there buddy...........Are you telling me that you would put that thru a planer to erase it? Please do not tell me that? I would gladly and I mean gladly take it of your hands if you would like. That and any other "practice" pieces that you carve.

"Permanent Mechanical Eraser"?????? That would be a crime. A crime I tell ya.....

I had to edit to ask you again, and I'm sorry but do you really put it thru the "Eraser"? I went back to look at it, and same reaction, "WOW"

[brian-bailey]

Thanks for the replies.

I like to do several practice pieces to workout any issues before I do a final one. I've also noticed that when I do carve the final one it seems easier to do for some reason.

They might look good from a distance, but they are not keepers.

A while back a guy stopped by my shop. He spied an angel in relief that I had carved for practice( it had some issues to me anyways) and asked if he could have it to show his daughter. I said sure take it along.

Several weeks went by, when he and his daughter stopped by my shop.
I noticed that his daughter was carrying a small wood box.
They were both beaming, He said look what I did with your angel! I made my daughter a communion box and attached the angel to the lid. The look on their faces was priceless. What could I say.

After they left I got to thinking that I wasn't really happy about my practice piece being shown around.

So that is the reason for the mechanical eraser.

Brian...

[Claude]

Brian:
I think you may be too hard on yourself. Religious theme relief carvings are not my thing, but I think you did a great job on this. My only criticism is that the rocks on the ledge behind the man seem to stand out a bit too much. It may be the photo, but to me they appear to be as prominent as the rock in front of the figure...

Perhaps you could just sign the back of a practice piece that others like and you don't as "Practice Piece, Brian Bailey" or something to that effect.

Claude