[Ron Davidson]

Bob here is the ship I am working on I have a few questions. The sea on the horizon should it look fairly even or should it show waves? The cross members on the sails are they round. I think they are but not sure. If anyone else has input on this feel free to mention your thoughts too.
Ron

[Claude]

Ron:
I'm going to anticipate Bob here, but after 10 years as a Navy Officer way back when, I can say authoritatively that the sea at the horizon will be flat. Individual waves can be many feet tall near a ship, but at the horizon (6 to 10 miles distant, depending on one's height above the water) all you'll see is an indistinct white/gray/blue blur, depending on the weather. In fact, the worse the weather, the more indistinct the horizon; you really can't see a horizon, as such, in a storm...

For your carving, I'd say the sea near the horizon on the right side is just about perfect. On the left side, the waves are a bit too prominent as you approach the horizon. I think a bit less definition, or much closer together would be better...

The yardarms I've seen have been pretty much round. They're thickest at the mast, and then taper as they go outboard to a much smaller cross-section. The thickness is because the stress acting on the yardarm is greatest where it's connected to the mast.

Hope this helps you - if you have additional questions, please ask. I've got a lot of time at sea...

Claude

[squbrigg]

Ron .... the ship scene is looking good. Claude has answered your questions well, and thoroughly. The horizon is indeed level at your scenes point of view. The spars are round and taper smaller as they go outboard.

One suggestion I do have regarding your sea, the waves in the foreground appear to be a continious wavelet from one side of the scene to the other. Left to right, right to left. If you break them up into a shorter series of choppy waves it will give the impression of a more realistic sea, a more active sea scape. Similar to your curl to the right, but bring the waves to peaks, don't curl, the wind would whip the curl away before it forms that much. Think of mountain peaks at a distance!

Hope this helps.

Bob

[Ron Davidson]

Thanks Bob and Claude. Very much appreciated.
Ron