[Paul_Guraedy]

I have mentioned before that I am not much in favor of a lot of practice cuts when starting a beginner with carving. That goes double for me when I am learning something myself. I had rather ruin and throw away a dozen pieces than sit for several hours doing practice strokes. The problem comes when Diana finds a practice piece and insists on keeping it!
She and several friends have mentioned a number of times that I should start doing something with a more natural finish. I have been thinking it over and decided that, given my preferred subject matter (first birds of prey, second animals), that I will try to put some pyrography into my carving efforts.
I bought Lora’s “Great Book of Woodburning” and started making square’s of the practice strokes. Soon reverted to my natural state, looked ahead, saw the mallard and thought I would give it a try. I knew I had a piece of China birch plywood on my studio floor; Lora said this was a good medium for burning….
Now my frien’s, the first step in learnin’ is unlearnin’. There is not much we do in which we do not have some experience. Learn to sharpen a carving tool by unlearning sharpening a pocket knife, etc. I am still in the unlearning stage. My burning experience has been primarily feathers. Burn real cool and real tight. Looks good painted. Not so good for pyrography.
On to the mallard. I first went astray by copying all of the lines Lora put in on the pattern. I would have been better off to have copied the silhouette and flight feathers and added in the details as I burned. In other words, I burned in some solid lines that I should have burned in using one of Lora’s “burning patterns”.
By accident I had chosen an excellent pattern for my first pyrographic effort. Lora has given detailed instructions in a step-by-step format. I practiced the strokes on a piece of scrap wood and then went to work on my pattern.
Coming from a Cajun background, ain’t no way I’m not gonna put some color in there! I have been wanting to try the watercolor pencils. I am not real happy with them. Add water to brown and it comes out too red, etc. I will keep experimenting; but will probably end up with watercolor washes.
I was more interested in technique than getting things correct. There are a lot of mistakes; but, all-in-all I am fairly happy with my first pyrographic piece. Lora’s owl is next and then I will start deciding on how to apply what I have learned on flat patterns to carvings “in the round”.

[xsailer]

Nice job Paul, you obviously have a natural talent.

[btree50]

Paul,
That is a beautiful piece you have there. I wish my talents were one fourth of yours. I really like seeing your work.

Jim

[jeanniecarey]

Paul,
That mallard piece looks beautiful and so realistic. You do have a natural talent for this hobby. I'm proud to tell friends that you're my instructor. I'm glad you have the time now to get back to your carving/burning now that your house is done and looking great.
Jeannie

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Susans book "great book of WOODBURNING" is an outstanding book!

[bird carver]

Paul it looks great! your shadowing is excellent also. For your first time It looks like you have been doing it for years. bird carver

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have gotten Susan's owl underway. This time I did not copy all of the lines; but, still copied too many. But, I think I am getting there.

I am doing this on a piece of basswood that I have had stocked away.

[bird carver]

Paul the Owl looks great. Are you going to paint it? If not it looks fantastic without paint. Excellent job bird carver</IMG>

[Irish]

Paul,

The owl first ... outstanding!!! I love the depth of tones. You have already captured a true dark, medium and pale tone in the owl. The detailing is clearly coming through the toning.

I know you are in the early stages of the work so I still have a chance to throw in a suggestion or two. Notice that at this stage all of the dark tone is in the bird (most excellent by the way). But there is none is the leaves or tree branch. As you work you will want to pull some of that darkness into these areas.

Plus, as you are working on a plate you might want to consider a fine line or border around the edge or just in from the edging.

For the mallard ... whoa! ... that's your first??? Try going back over the brown areas that turned red with a light coat or two of medium green. The green will bring the redness back to brown.

Great work!

Susan

[Colin_Partridge]

Paul those are excellent if I could do half as well I would be a happy man. Nice that we have Susan here for tips and critique. Although I dont spend a lot of time here anymore I do check in every day and read most of the threads. Again nice work cant wait to see the owl finished
Colin