[Ron Davidson]

Here is the latest Mill project I started on recently. Yes that's right I hung up my chainsaw for now. This is one of Lora Irish's patterns on a peice of basswood that is 2'X16X21'. I am getting to the fun area the reflection they are very confusing to me for some reason maybe because I can't see one. Anyway let me know what you think I need ti improve on. Thanks for looking.
Ron

[Blinky Bill]

Ron,
That is one piece that I would be proud to display in my home. fantastic depth and beautifully executed. I just know you will handle the reflection very well, and look forward to seeing the completed article... Thank for sharing.
John in Australia

[Doug Ridley]

Amazing, Ron! But a question. I can sort of understand how you can feel the carving after it is started and feel where to carve, but how in the world do you know how to start on a flat board? I can see good but I'm in the dark on this, pun intended.

[Ron Davidson]

Originally Posted by Doug Ridley

Amazing, Ron! But a question. I can sort of understand how you can feel the carving after it is started and feel where to carve, but how in the world do you know how to start on a flat board? I can see good but I'm in the dark on this, pun intended.

Doug if you look at the bottom of the carving you may be able to see the raised lines left by the laser. I spend about an average of 2 hours before carving studying the pattern and start with the far horizon. Hopes this helps some.
Ron

[Colin_Partridge]

Ron,
I know you hate it when people do this but I cant see anything wrong with the carving at all. Now having said that remember when we looked at your carvings in real life we could see where you should have set things back further like the roof and the chiminey on the one of them. It is hard to see from a picture and also you are still have some to go. I really like the light and shadow that you have in this carving. I know you cant see it but under the eves it is perfect. BTW Ron loves constructive critisism and if you spent some time with him you would understand why he asks for help. He says him main complaint is that everyone tells him how good his work is and no one tells him what he should change. Having said all that I dont see a whole pile wrong with his work. I dont think I could do as well.
Colin

[Thor]

Good question Doug. I was wondering the same thing.
It just makes me appreciate your skills that much more that you do this fine a carving by having to come up with a new way of creating it.
I just keep trying to comment on your carvings as if you can see, because you carvings are just as fine, if not finer, than carvers who can.
Another wonderful one in the works Ron.
Thor

[Irish]

Wow!!!

Let me first start with the mill and land area that you have already carved. they are dead on perfect in perceptive and depth. The shingle lines follow the roof line angles excellently. You have the depth between each front wall of the mill sections well set compared to the other front levels.

Great job, Ron!!!

Now for the reflections. This is just my suggestion. Mark the edge of the top of the carving some how. Maybe a thumb tack pushed into the edge so that you will easily know which side goes up.

Now take the board and turn it upside down so that the carved land area is now at the bottom and the reflection at the top.

Now think mill not reflection. You have the exact same pattern of the mill in the reflection area as you did in the land area. They are just mirror images of each other. When you check the laser lines with your fingers feel to see that this area is just the same as the area you just carved.

Reflections in relief carvings are only shallow upside down copies of land pattern. So don't think reflection, think another mill to carve. Carve this second mill more shallow, low relief, then you did the land mill.

Let me know if this helps.

Susan

[Irish]

Mike is asking me when does Ron carve the water ripples. I am answering that after the mill has been carved in shallow low relief then Ron can use his v gouge to add the water ripples over the carved mill. Susan

[Kenny_S]

looks great so far Ron.

[Ron Davidson]

Thanks everyone for their comments and feedback. Susan I haven't been to check what you said until now but I took a different approach. See if I get the same affect you were suggesting and I will tell you how I did it.
Ron