A Frog Went A Courtin'

Eddy Smiles · #1 07-07-2007, 10:06 PM

Earlier in the year while searching for a frog cartoon online I ran across a neat frog that I thought would make a cute relief carving. My oldest daughter is a frogophile and I thought that it would make a nice Christmas present. After I imported the picture I ran it through IrFranView and made it into a relief pattern. I transferred the image to a piece of 5/4 x 10" x 10" southern kiln dried basswood obtained from a local Tennessee lumber company.

Although I'm still going to give it to my daughter I'm not entirely satisfied with the results. I had intended to carve the eyes but somehow during the carving process I took out more wood on the upper part of the head than I had planned so that I had no choice but to paint the eyes in. Alot of times I'll use dimensional paint to build up the eyes but in this case because they are so large I just could not get the dimensional paint to look right so I ended up just painting them on.

And, I also had not planned to make the paint look so heavy. I tried to use an acrylic wash but after the first coat the imperfections in the wood really made it look bad so that I had to apply a thick second coat of paint.

Kenny_S · #2 07-07-2007, 10:18 PM

Real cute and the paint job looks great.

Arnold Smith · #3 07-07-2007, 10:33 PM

good looking frog.

gene messer · #4 07-08-2007, 12:30 AM

Eddy ... what are you talking about ?

That is one cute frog ... Your painting is great .. I love your eye's .. even though you didnt carve them .. your paint job made up for it ..

I use to know a guy who wasnt such a great carver .. but he was such a good painter .. His piece's came out beautiful ...
Wonderful looking cartoon figure ..

If your daughter doesnt want it .. Iam sure your have plenty of volunteers that would step in for it .. but I think your being hard on yourself ..

Gene

Joy · #5 07-08-2007, 08:07 AM

He looks very froggy to me. I would hang him on my wall. Good job.

Banjo · #6 07-08-2007, 08:26 AM

Oooohhhh, he's too cute!! Very nice carving and your paint job just brings him to life!

Tom H · #7 07-08-2007, 09:22 AM

Eddy, I am sure your daughter won't have any critism of your work. In fact she will love it. Very fun project. Looks like it was fun to carve, paint, and finish. Good job. Tom H

Bartster · #8 07-08-2007, 12:22 PM

eddy,

great work on the frog, i am sure your daughter will love it,i think you did a fine job with it.

bart

JIM QUILICI · #9 07-08-2007, 02:05 PM

Eddie,
My Wife Is A Saver Of Frogs, She Is Sorta A Expert , She Loved The Frog And I will Not disagree With Her , She Knows Best.keep Up The Good Work .
Jim

Claude · #10 07-08-2007, 09:47 PM

Ribbitt! (frog talk, for: "nice work Eddy")

Claude