[Mottles]

Thanks Deborah, I appreciate your generous compliment and I hope I can have a good finish. I don't want to have to explain to my daughter why my son-in-law won't be getting this Christmas present. urghhhhh
Kathy

[Colin_Partridge]

Kathy,
I must have been asleep or too busy or is it old age I cannot believe that I am looking at this thread for the first time. Wonderful work and such a wonderful tribute to such a loyal friend. It is hard when they pass but nice to remember the great times and joy they have provided while they are here. I am impressed with how well you have captured Mandy I just looked at the real picture and your work and can feel the love you had for her. Again sorry I gapped this thread completly I will pay more attention in the future.
Colin

[Mottles]

QUOTE: Kathy,
I must have been asleep or too busy or is it old age I cannot believe that I am looking at this thread for the first time.

LOL Colin, I feel the same way sometimes--just don't know how I missed seeing my fellow WCI threads and posts. Like you I do try to catch up!
Thank you so much for your nice compliment and yes I love Mandy. Our house was her second home when the kids went away on trips. At the time we had two dogs our selves and when the three dogs got together it was all out play time--they even slept together. Geez I loved all those dogs---miss them all.
Kathy

[bygeorge]

Kathy, I'm really enjoying watching this work in progress! What a beautiful gift this will make. Thanks for sharing.

[Mottles]

Big ---Thank you bygeorge I'm very pleased folks are following my WIP. I really feel it's important to show how each person goes about working on their burning. It's also helpful to have extra sets of eyes who might see something you missed. And if you agree or don't agree it makes for a good learning discussion.
Kathy

[Pyrographer]

Kathy, you are absolutely right. I think it's wonderful to be able to share with others how we do our work and help people to learn. I also agree that getting other eyes to look at our work helps us to see things that perhaps we might miss. Whenever I finish a piece I set it aside for several days and look at it from a distance. I often see things that I missed while working on it because your so close to it you don't get to see the "bigger picture".

One trick I learned when I was doing a portrait and couldn't quite figure out what was wrong...I hold it up in front of a mirror and look at it in the mirror. I saw that the nose was slightly crooked (but didn't see it looking at it straight on) and was able to fix it.

Nedra

[Mottles]

QUOTE: One trick I learned when I was doing a portrait and couldn't quite figure out what was wrong...I hold it up in front of a mirror and look at it in the mirror. I saw that the nose was slightly crooked (but didn't see it looking at it straight on) and was able to fix it.

Yes, Nedra I have used this technique almost in every painting and sculpture I have done. Some how seeing your painting in reverse just makes the errors jump out at ya. Actually it would be the same with woodburning designs too and maybe even relief carving. It's like having a second person critique your work.

I do truely believe there should be no mystery to any type of art work. And I do include woodburning and carving art work because it is ART! Non of us would be where we are without someone else sharing their knowledge. I think the WIP's go a long way in taking some of the mystery out of how another artist goes about creating their art. If someone is struggling in a certain area of their work and your WIP helps them overcome their struggle then that is what it's all about. Or even if your WIP encourages someone to create their own piece of art isn't that great. Big
Kathy

[Irish]

Kathy and Nedra ... great points!!!! But I am part of the choir here.

I think that WIP's also make you, the artist, really consider what you are doing and why. When we are posting a project at a certain stage, whether it is a mapping stage or shading stage or even I have run out of time to work today stage, we are also writing out in words where we are and what we have just done. So, at least for me, by working as a WIP I am paying much closer attention to both my work and the reason I just did what I just did.

For me it's a great way to figure out what techniques work for me and which don't ... so which techniques am I going to use in the next project. So being just a touch selfish and self-centered here WIPs aren't just for everyone else ... as a poster I get an awful lot of learning out of posting a Work In Porgress.

On another forum (WetCanvas) that uses WIP's I have done over the years a few WIPs that just went to "Whosits in a Hand Basket" and they were probably the ones that I learned the most. Not every WIP ends up with a Division Winning Work ... some end up headed directly towards the trash bin. Yet being able to talk out what happens, what might have been done different, what changes could have been made are where the real learning starts.

Susan

[Mottles]

QUOTE:Kathy and Nedra ... great points!!!! But I am part of the choir here.

Susan, you are first seat oh wait a minute that is band and orchestra. Just wanted to say you made some good points too. I really don't think it's being selfish on your part or anyone else's part to benefit from your WIP. It just gets back to learning and sharing your success and challenges. I love WIP's like you and other's I learn so much from them (theirs or mine). More often than not a better way to get the same result.

[Kenny_S]

Irish, Nedra, Mottles,

All I can say is your three ladies are fantastic burners.