Trees/leaves in cherry

[mark yundt]

This is the start of the "trees" and leaves I'm doing in cherry. They are for a display to arch over a side by side ref/freezer.They are only getting roughed in at this point but you can see the movement as well as a couple of butterflies here and there. The small tree is one of two ( that's the blank for the second) that'll go on each side of a farm style sink.The leaves on this piece haven't been detailed yet,only roughed in.They'll get the stems,veins and cutouts just like the big ones.Even considering the size of this piece,,and the fact that it's cherry,,the largest chisel I've used for carving is a 14mm .I have used a broader chisel but only for flattening the original surface to draw on,though that isn't really necessary.I've also kept the same angle on the chisels that I use for basswood.

[chuckt]

Wow Mark! That is going to be spectaculendiforous! (Gotta keep coming up with new superlatives for some of the work being posted lately. <grin>)

This is really going to be an amazing piece of work. Keep sharing your progress.

ChuckT

[doris]

only today i was thinking i have long not seen a carving from you, mark, and now i come to forum, and see a wonder :-) wow, yes, these trees will be marvelous, and are already. i envy woman who gets them in her kitchen... i have just one question, since i am in carving leaves too on my greenwoman, and have some problem with them looking a little too flat... do you carve one leaf completely, then draw in next ones touching that, and carve that ? or do you have drawed all leaves first, and then carve exactely like you drawed ? your leaves seem be have so much volume ... just wonderful

[mark yundt]

Thanks Chuck and Doris.Yeah,,these should be pretty neat.
What I do is draw them in first. That way I can play with how they flow and which ones will be laying on top of others.Then it's just a matter of carving them to the depth I want to get them to appear as if they are doing something.Of course actual leaves wouldn't be this deep,,carvings just look a bit better if you give a bit more depth and drama to them.Once these are undercut they'll be much lighter looking.

Also,,natural leaves don't generally have this "flow" to them,,nature can have them go any which way and they look great. Carvers on the other hand have to arrange them to give them some life,flow and direction, and still have them appear somewhat natural.
Glad you like them.

[Alice in Wonderland]

aah Mark, another beautiful piece shaping up, do I wish I had your patience for details, no wonder I do only stylizing work. Maybe if I would be "3 month younger"
I am doing a Mongolian Man and I am trying to work out the stringy hairline as well as his stringy beard, I don't know why I got into it. I can not even find a picture somewhere do you know any sites?
Thanks for posting an sharing your exceptional work
Alice

[Eddy-Smiles]

I have to chuckle at your deffinition of "rough!" To me that 99.9% finished! Great work!

[gene-messer]

Ah Mark ... Another set of beautiful leaves ... Your work just amazes me ..

Like Eddy said .. what you consider roughed out .. is finished for most of us ...

Mark .. your work is one of my favorites ... In comparison to your last pictures of your finished work you displayed of the same type you did before ..

These are going to be even more beautiful .. You are a artist with that set of tools and the only thing that frustrate's me .. is that we can't see it in person .. I know the pictures dont do it justice ..

Thanks for sharing ..

Gene

[doris]

thanks mark for explanation... yes draw all leaves, that how i did too... maybe i just need them cut thicker, like you indicated, and then undercut slightly...will experiment, still have lots of wood there... i am looking forward to you next showing trees again. have a wonderful time carving

[mark yundt]

Alice,,there is nothing wrong with "stylized" pieces.Detail means nothing actually.If you can capture the essence of something in a stylized piece,,or successfully rough it out,,THAT'S GREAT! That means you see the form and shape of something and can capture it in it's essence.Details can be added if you like at any time or by anyone.Few seem to realize the beauty is in the form ,,,not the details,form is what captures you,,keeps you looking,,details become just fluff,,eye candy that impresses the uninformed and unknowing.All the detail in the world won't make a bad carving better.It's only a well detailed bad carving.
Eddy,Chuck and Gene,or anyone else for that matter,you're welcome to stop in and see my work if you're in the neighborhood.I'm glad you like it.I think I know too much about it to look at it the same way.I've said it how many times,,you only need some basic tools,,follow some basic guidelines,,forget all the wizz-bang stuff ,,learn what the tools can do,,and let the carvings fall into place.There are no real tricks,,just technique and basic carving following a few simple rules.
Doris,,I've been watching your carving,,I'm just keeping silent and listening to all the advice and seeing what you'll do vs what people are saying to do.You've got plenty of wood there,,enough to make those leaves just twist ,turn and frame the face like garland,,and those flowers can just be ready to pick.The face,,well she could be Mother Earth if you choose,,or that of an angel in an expression of blissfull delight.Pick one and make it happen,, I know you can. The leaves don't have to be thick in your case,,in mine they do. For you they might appear too chunky and heavy,,,delicate I would think is the key,,lighten them to appear effortless and floating,,almost as if they're falling down around her,or being blown about her. Mine ,,partly because of the size would look terrible with those type of leaves. I need the mass because this thing is big and heavy,,delicate leaves would look silly here and get lost in the size.Bigger leaves work,,and the butterflies add a bit of lightness and delicacy if handled correctly as a balance I think.

[Joy]

Beautiful! Is that a crack developing on the left side? How will you deal with that?

Are you taking care of those wrists? How hard do you have to strike with the mallet on cherry?