head study

doris · #1 02-26-2008, 10:44 AM

hi :-)
this is again a head study, trying to portray emotion, trying to learn carve smaller heads.... i tried to make use of all the tips i got for the last carving, in particular the very useful ones of jim (thanks again !)... this is carved with a reference foto (or rather several), there is similarity, but it was not my goal to do a portrait, rather than getting emotion, and bones correct... again, critique on this welcome, and i do put a larger version into the gallery too... thanks for looking :-)

Kenny_S · #2 02-26-2008, 11:00 AM

All I am going to say is Very nice carving!

Mottles · #3 02-26-2008, 11:13 AM

Hi Doris, you have done what I should do also. For me, what I see is there appears from your images to be quite a distance between the cheek/jaw with the ears set back maybe further than they should be. Appears, there is more distance between the cheek and jaw and top of head? I feel kind of anxious about critiquing you because I'm no where near your carving level. It's one of those things I can see how I think it should be, but can't quite put it into a carving for myself. Hope this makes since to you. Check your carving with a mirro, and see what you think.
Mary-Ann-Jack-Bleach gave me this recommendation for a book The ARTIST's COMLETE GUIDE TO FACIAL EXPRESSION by Gary Faigin.
ISBN 0-8230-1628-5 maybe you already have it. I'm going to order one www.amazon.com has a good price.

Kathy

doris · #4 02-26-2008, 11:18 AM

hi kathy, no worry, every comment is welcome :-) ...yes, the ears look too far back, but are not, i measured, he has his ears a little behind the middle line, and i think the effect that we cant see the back of head gives impression of ears too far back...thanks though, i know how easily one can overlook such important points

Paul_Guraedy · #5 02-26-2008, 11:43 AM

Doris that is an excellent carving. One of the most amazing things to me is that it is so small. I do not like carving anything under about 12 inches. I truly enjoy realistic carvings of humans. This is an area where I do not venture; but, do admire the work of those who do so. In studying your photos two things come to mind the first is that you did not carve perfect lips. Very few people have them. The thin upper lip is more of a norm; but, it seems to me it is seldom shown that way. I do think that there is a little too deep a curve in the cheeks. This is especially evident in the profiles. I think the quality of your carving is evident by the fact that it is necessary to really do some examining to find something to critique.

tnartist05 · #6 02-26-2008, 02:02 PM

Doris,This man seems very peacefull and content but with that little grin on his face its like hes done something that hes really enjoyed or he has just fell in love? The main thing about all of the wonderfull carvings you create is all of them do show emotions! Most of the carvers can show different expressions as being funny,sad or some are very realistic but yours are more,they have real feelings! Just another great carving on your behalf! Forrest

Irishman · #7 02-26-2008, 06:05 PM

That's a fine face Doris. It's difficult to give you feedback as I'm not sure what your going for. He has the grin lines but the eyes are somewhat neutral. Perhaps putting some lines in the corners to give the appearance that they are crunching up to give more expression.
I just came back from the mirror as I had to see if the lines your showing between the chin and lower lip (to the side) are evident. Perhaps the lines are defined more than they need to be to coincide with the grin lines. These are just suggestions as I'm feeling you have what your looking for down pretty good.
I'm working on a woodspirit right now but I'll be trying a carving with a big toothy laughing expression soon so I'm learning from the feedback your getting.
Patrick

Jim OH · #8 02-26-2008, 06:29 PM

Hi Doris,
You are a quick study ;O). I think that head looks great! Nice work. Everything looks to be in the right place and the temples and cheekbones seem to follow the shape of the skull! You did an excellent job!! Now if ya just give him a big nose and big ears, we'll turn ya into a caricarture carver real fast LOL. I hope my suggestions helped as I think you really improved the look of this face a lot over the last one. Thanks for sharing your progress!
Jim OH

doris · #9 02-27-2008, 01:42 AM

kathy, (have overlooked your book recommendation on first read, sorry) please let me know what you think of the book once you got it and studied it a little...
paul, yes the small size was a problem, my eyesight is not that good, i needed carve the smaller things like the wrinkles under the eye, or the nostrils with a loupe...thanks for the critique, yes i see the curve you mean. i did overdo it, thats right.
ah forrest, you nailed it down, it is a pleasure to know it is readible, i dont know if he is just fall in love, but i carve what i feel, cant help it, and sometimes (hehe more often than not) this is against anatomy too..thaats why these study heads, to combine both...thanks for your kind words...
patrick i am looking forward to see your toothy laugh-carving...thanks also for the critique...yes the lines downward to chin, they dont look right. he has them pronounced, but somehow different, need look closer next time, fotos not show good enough
jim, glad you liked the new try. hehe, yes big nose and ears, would be fun to try once, maybe sometime,...thanks again for your suggestions, it were those who made me aware what i was not doing right, and how to improve. it really helped. thanks again.

tucker1931 · #10 02-27-2008, 02:47 AM

Doris, I'm certainly not an art critic and to me all of your pieces are art and this face is no exception. It's truly remarkable how you do such lovely work. Obviously you must have been educated in the arts. What ever your doing and however you do it, it's a treat to behold, congratulations and continued sucsess from Canada.
Cliff