[doris]

since susan had started this nice thread show and tell i decided today to start a new wip thread for the project i am working on.... she is going to be mary poppins, and is still in a very rough state.

i made first lots of drawings, and then i made a plastilin model, very ugly i cant show here ;-) ... but it helped me to understand the big shapes...so, i started carving. i have saw off bigger pieces first, but then just chisel wood away. i was tempted to try first cut the outline, but feard i would loose wood to early, that i need later to adjust mistakes i most probably will make... and am still in the state where i concentrate to put her attitude into the piece rather than giving too much definition on things. thats my main focus.

she will be dressed a little fancy, having an umbrella in her right hand, which i will carve separately, and possibly a bag in her left hand, which i will carve separately too, if i decide to have that really... in the moment she looks way too fat, needs a serious diet, this comes since i have a hard time deciding how front and back go together. i think i have the height proportions like i want them be, but in width and depth she is way too big , also her head is too big still, so she looks cartoony right now, i will take care of that later ... she is about 30cm tall, and my first full figure, so i am not expecting her to come out really like i see her in my mind, but the urge to try such a carving is pushing me. i noticed already that the pose is too complcated for a first full figure, ahh well... ... anyway, her she is... and i hope you have fun watching...

hmm cant seem to upload a pic twice, even if i rename it...so, the first is here (sorry for inconvinience)

[Mark N. Akers]

Great job so far Doris,looks like it going to be a good one.

[Irishman]

Yes that is a very challenging project Doris. I can't recall seeing a posting where you carved a full figure. I'm interested in trying to carve in the round as I'm almost there with my deep relief faces. You can definitely see Mary Poppins under that wood. Good luck and look forward to following your thread.
Patrick

[Irish]

Doris, Thanks for starting this WIP! It is going to be a delight to watch.

Looking at how you have her back bent to lean her torso forward and her knees bent to give her motion I am not too sure that she really is too wide at this point. In height from the table maybe ... but in actual height of the figure if she were to stand straight up ... maybe not.

I agree, it is best to go slow now then to lose too much wood early and then have to resize everything else.

Please, reconsider posting your clay model. I believe that it would be an excellent example that you do NOT need to completely sculpture the model to create a strong reference for body part lengths and proportions. Sometimes all you need is a wire frame with some clay slapped on it to see where you are headed.

Susan

[gene messer]

WOW Doris .. I can just imagine how good she's going to look ..

Already just with the shape it looks so tempting ..

Please show us the finished piece ..

Gene

[Mottles]

Hi Doris, I think it looks like a wonderful start and will be following along as you progress. You work is really nice so I just know this one will be exellent.
Kathy

[santagibbs]

Hello Doris , I can sure see Mary Poppins in your carving .. Thank's for showing it and I will look forward to seeing her emerge from the wood. Charlotte

[Joy]

Doris, I tend to "bite off" too big a chunk of the learning curve when I start a new piece, too. There's nothing wrong with that...it just takes a little longer to "bring it home". I'm sure your Mary will be terrific. You have such a great sense of where you want to go. I'll be following along closely.

[doris]

hi thank you all for your joining in the fun , it is big pleasure for me sharing wip :-)

ah, susan, i feel too embarassed to show my model. its nothing like you have seen here on forum, from fred, mark or joy...no, mine is not more then wires with kids plastilin on it. i made it only to figure out how the back is vanishing under the drape, and since i wanted see how the pose looks in 3d with al the draperies on...and well, it truely looks too ugly to show. i have no good way with this squishy medium, i want shape here, and while i touch it, another spot gets deformed...please don´t be disappointed. ... yes joy, i bite a big piece this time, but i am having fun, and i will learn a lot...
made a hole today, at here left knee, and i was so glad, i have misjuded the position of knee from back only very little...i show soon more, want first carve a little more so you can see something has happened...
ah, yes, susan, you are right with her figure, she has nice volouptous shape now, i really could leave her like that, but in my vision, she is a bit more slender...we will see how she turns out in the end... soon back with more...off to carving :-)

[doris]

a little update... tried to give her body more shape, and put more emphasis on her attitude...also reduced headsize a little, that tiny face will be a challenge, i guess ...and found already some big mistakes i made ...lol...anyway, still she is that i can see her in the wood...