Son with deer

[GeorgiaCarver]

Usually I am woodcarving, however, I was talked into trying a Pyro project.

This is only my 2nd attempt. I am using the photo in the picture, it is of the 10 pt. buck my son harvested this year. His biggest ever.

I would really appreciate any comments that you have. I also wonder, should I try to do the trees in the background like the picture or should I soften the detail a little?

I will be stopped for a few days while I order new tips/pens from Nedra.... Too rough on them I guess.

Greg

[Colin-Partridge]

Greg,
I am not much of a woodburner so cant offer any advice. But I have harvested a few deer in my life time. So my only comment is "Nice Buck" my first sure wasent a 10 pointer.
Colin

[Pyrographer]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaCarver

Usually I am woodcarving, however, I was talked into trying a Pyro project.

This is only my 2nd attempt. I am using the photo in the picture, it is of the 10 pt. buck my son harvested this year. His biggest ever.

I would really appreciate any comments that you have. I also wonder, should I try to do the trees in the background like the picture or should I soften the detail a little?

I will be stopped for a few days while I order new tips/pens from Nedra.... Too rough on them I guess.

Greg

Hi Greg, it's lookin good so far. I would definately add the trees, it needs something in the background.

My technique may be different than many people but I always layer my work to create more depth. what I mean by layering is to burn in layers just as you get dressed....inside out, back to front, etc. So, you layer it as it is seen. Backgrounds done first and foregrounds last. I do everything in layers so it looks more lifelike. If you burn the background after the forground you tend to lose some of the depth.

To give an example, burning a rose, I do the petal or leaf that is farthest in the background or bottom and the one on top next, so in essence you are burning as it grows, same with hair and fur, burn the underneath layers then the next layer, etc.

Hope that's not clear as mud!

also look at your lights, mediums and darks (tonal values). You need to darken the darks a bit more since you have some of the lights too dark. Don't be afraid to darken the dark areas. If you ever need to lighten you can use the edge of a straight razor to GENTLY scrape off some of the color.

Pens will get out on the 4th.


PS, let the pens do the work, you don't need to use pressure! Keep in mind that the new fixed tip pens have a 1 year warranty and after that Cam will fix them for $7.00!

[GeorgiaCarver]

Colin, ya I was a little jealous, but happy at the same time

Nedra, thank you for the comments. My mistake was that I actually took the picture and ran it through a program that turned it into a line drawing which completely lost all detail and shading. It came out only black and white. After I did the truck bed and the lights I decided to print the picture out in black and white gray scale....ouch.... too late! I noticed that I really messed up the tones.

Would you go ahead and use the razor blade at this point to lighten the lights? Or just simply darken the other dark areas more?

Again, thanks for the comments.

Greg

[Pyrographer]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaCarver

Colin, ya I was a little jealous, but happy at the same time

Nedra, thank you for the comments. My mistake was that I actually took the picture and ran it through a program that turned it into a line drawing which completely lost all detail and shading. It came out only black and white. After I did the truck bed and the lights I decided to print the picture out in black and white gray scale....ouch.... too late! I noticed that I really messed up the tones.

Would you go ahead and use the razor blade at this point to lighten the lights? Or just simply darken the other dark areas more?

Again, thanks for the comments.

Greg

Hi Greg, I never use line drawings always photo in black and white. Line drawings as you have found out definately are not great for trying to make things look natural and lifelike.

I would do a combination...lightly soften the areas that need lightening with the razor but not too much, then darken the darks. Remember the key to the razor blade is move in one direction and do it very gently.

Nedra

[Lindy]

Hi Greg,

Nice job, I look forward to seeing the finished project.

[GeorgiaCarver]

Here is a progress picture. Doing the trees was a trip. Still a little more to go on the left side of the trees.

Next will be the left side of the truck, then the deer.

Nedra, I still plan on lightning several areas as we previously discussed. Just thought I would do it once I had the burning nearly done.

Greg

[Mottles]

Hi Greg, I think your making good progress just take your time and you will have a wonderful gift for your son that will be passed down though the generations.
Here are my thoughts, and this is how I would go about this subject if it were mine to do. Understanding that you are already into and I'm sorry I didn't see it and comment sooner.
When I start a pyrography project I approach it as if it were a pencil drawing first. I workout the composition on paper first--if using a photograph I take out the elements that do not help the composition. You are telling a story and staging it is very important. After I get the finial compostiion worked out I transfer it using graphite paper onto the wood usually birch or basswood. Like Nedra, I like to work from the back forward--then adjusting values back and forth from background to midground to foreground. I try not to stay in one area to long but working the overall composition. I like to use my burning tips as if they were a pencil in my hand.
In your photograph you can quickly pick out the dark, mid and light values by squinting your eyes. The darker values will pop out at you right away and will help give your burning depth and richness and show off your mid values and light values.
I like the tree's in your photograph sets a nice back-drop. They will show lighter with less detail because you want them to show distance.
I come very close to doing a complete detailed drawing, but with woodburning I don't want any surprises--it's hard to remove a line or area once it's burned into the wood.
Looking forward to following along on your project and keep up the good work!
Kathy
Example:http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...2&d=1125262692
wood burning value scale (Irish showed me how to make one) http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...5&d=1125282994

[GeorgiaCarver]

Well I finally finished the burning. I am going to let it set for a few a week or two then look at it one more time and decide if I dare touch it again!

Hope you like it, I am sure my son will. Too bad it will fade some day Head Bange

I want to thank each of you that offered suggestions. Nedra, thanks for the new pens, they worked out great.

Greg

[Joy]

What a treasure for your son! Great job.

Joy