Relief cut or not?

[TimberFace]

Hi guys. This is a Loblolly pine on-site commission carving I did last week. (I mentioned this project a while back but just recently got to it). The client said the tree was cut about two years ago. You can't tell from the photo but it is still in the ground. After carving, I let it rest a few days and it oozed quite a bit of sap. I wiped it down with alcohol and let it sit an hour or so. Then I put the first coat of finish which went on fine. Second coat yesterday, third probably tomorrow.

Okay, back to the point. This is the first large pine I've carved that is still in the ground. I usually make a relief cut in the back of the large tree trunk carvings that have been cut down. This has worked well in reducing checks on the carved side. However, this tree is still very solid with no rot, lots of sap and the bark is very much intact all the way around. Any suggestions on if I should make a relief cut now or wait to see if it starts to crack and do it then.
Thanks
Lundy

p.s. Hope to see you guys at Chazfest in Sept.

[Sawdustchaz]

Lundy, due to it's size, it'll still be sappy for another year or two. Stump pieces of that size generally will only crack toward the top (which is free to flex as opposed to the bottom which is still attached) and shouldn't be anything to worry about. Make sure to let your customers know it will have to be retreated twice a year to help guard against the weather, sun, etc... and that will help a lot. But again, all wood cracks and on stump jobs, the cracks actually add to the art piece rather than detracting from it. So, in my opinion, a relief cut would not be necessary on this stump!
Chaz

P.S. Would love to see you at Chazfest ~ you did an awesome job on this stump!

[Thor]

OH my. He is really a fine spirit.
and large!
love the pipe.

[dicktilley20]

Likin' the big fella Lundy, cracks will add character, its wood, let iot crack!

See ya in Knox county!

dick

[TimberFace]

That's pretty much the way I was going. I let all my clients know that it's the nature of wood to crack and usually adds more character to the piece. I told this one that it will likely be fine for a long time and will probably not need a relief cut but I would check into it.
Thanks guys.
Lookin' forward to an after hours pint there Dick. And Chaz, well... the host will have to join us for a toast.
Lundy

[Rwenzoski]

Looks Great Lundy & the pipe really adds a lot to it also! I agree with Chaz & Dick about the relief cut & I have never got into doing this with any of mine & most wood does crack & if explained clearly to people they do actually realize it is wood, right.
Thanks, Robbin