Let’s talk about woodcarvingAdministrator2020-02-03T16:00:40-05:00
Discussions on this forum are membership-run. I (Mary May) will monitor conversations and will try and contribute as needed. However, I can't guarantee that I will always have time to keep up with the discussions. Please feel free to contribute, as the only way this forum will be successful is if members get involved! I will also be the "judge and juror" with inappropriate, rude, or offensive behavior, so play nice!
wine trivet woes
Bill Pierce@bpierce
31 Posts
Quote from Bill Pierce on November 9, 2017, 4:54 pm
I was reluctant to upload this work because I am not happy with it yet, but Mary shares her trials pretty freely and we all learn, so here it is. The idea was to make a vine encircle the bottle with leaves coming off in the four corners. I wanted the vine to look gnarley and organic. But I think I can take to heart the lesson that ornimental carving is supposed to be an idealization of nature with fair curves and the gnarley parts just look rough and ugly. Any suggestions on how to rescue this? Would also take suggestions on finishes for this in oak (fuming, antiquing stain, no color,etc.) Thanks in advance. - Bill
I was reluctant to upload this work because I am not happy with it yet, but Mary shares her trials pretty freely and we all learn, so here it is. The idea was to make a vine encircle the bottle with leaves coming off in the four corners. I wanted the vine to look gnarley and organic. But I think I can take to heart the lesson that ornimental carving is supposed to be an idealization of nature with fair curves and the gnarley parts just look rough and ugly. Any suggestions on how to rescue this? Would also take suggestions on finishes for this in oak (fuming, antiquing stain, no color,etc.) Thanks in advance. - Bill
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Matthew Mizner@mattm
242 Posts
Quote from Matthew Mizner on November 9, 2017, 10:29 pm
Bill, looks gnarly to me! I think it turned out great, and for me, the grapes and the leaves pulled my attention, and I didn’t even notice what you were saying about the vines until I read your comment. (I look at pictures first ?)
Bill, looks gnarly to me! I think it turned out great, and for me, the grapes and the leaves pulled my attention, and I didn’t even notice what you were saying about the vines until I read your comment. (I look at pictures first ?)
Deleted user
Quote from Deleted user on November 10, 2017, 12:02 pm
Hi Bill, I agree with Matthew, you did a wonderful job and what a neat idea! I know as the artist, you are zooming in on the detail and rightfully so. I think I have a fair and relatively simple fix for your detail thirsty eye. I am a avid collector of antique Black Forest clocks, Cuckoo's mostly and these things are richly carved with vines, leaves, animals and nature. Precisely what drew me to wood carving in the first place. Invariably almost always there's a Leaf, branch or part of one ear on the animals missing etc. etc. and in repairing them, it wasn't long before noticing a commonality among the old carvers creations in carving "vines". Grab your v-chisel Bill, it will do the trick. I am utterly and completely out of control with my clock fetish, so if you need more examples I will proudly accommodate you ? Hopefully this will be of some help for what you are after.
Hi Bill, I agree with Matthew, you did a wonderful job and what a neat idea! I know as the artist, you are zooming in on the detail and rightfully so. I think I have a fair and relatively simple fix for your detail thirsty eye. I am a avid collector of antique Black Forest clocks, Cuckoo's mostly and these things are richly carved with vines, leaves, animals and nature. Precisely what drew me to wood carving in the first place. Invariably almost always there's a Leaf, branch or part of one ear on the animals missing etc. etc. and in repairing them, it wasn't long before noticing a commonality among the old carvers creations in carving "vines". Grab your v-chisel Bill, it will do the trick. I am utterly and completely out of control with my clock fetish, so if you need more examples I will proudly accommodate you ? Hopefully this will be of some help for what you are after.
Uploaded files:
Tim Rauch@timrauch
49 Posts
Quote from Tim Rauch on November 10, 2017, 1:16 pm
Wow! I love the clocks Jim. I for one would definitely like to see more.
Tim
Wow! I love the clocks Jim. I for one would definitely like to see more.
Tim
Bill Pierce@bpierce
31 PostsTopic Author
Quote from Bill Pierce on November 11, 2017, 1:11 am
Thank you for the encouragement and suggestions. Vein the vines! Interesting idea. I'll look into that. - Bill
Thank you for the encouragement and suggestions. Vein the vines! Interesting idea. I'll look into that. - Bill
MaryMay@marymay
453 Posts
Quote from MaryMay on November 14, 2017, 8:08 pm
Bill, I think what you carved is great, and carving that small is no easy task. And Jim, good suggestion about the clocks.
I remember carving my first "gnarley" grape vines and those vein cuts were not a part of it. That would have helped me out greatly. All I did was make them sort of "wavey", with cut-off branches sticking out every once in a while. That's a great tip that I will remember for future projects. Come to think of it, if you look at old grape vines, they actually do have these texture lines along the surface of the vine. It's almost as if the vine itself splits as it grows.
Bill, I think what you carved is great, and carving that small is no easy task. And Jim, good suggestion about the clocks.
I remember carving my first "gnarley" grape vines and those vein cuts were not a part of it. That would have helped me out greatly. All I did was make them sort of "wavey", with cut-off branches sticking out every once in a while. That's a great tip that I will remember for future projects. Come to think of it, if you look at old grape vines, they actually do have these texture lines along the surface of the vine. It's almost as if the vine itself splits as it grows.
Bill Pierce@bpierce
31 PostsTopic Author
Quote from Bill Pierce on November 15, 2017, 3:12 pm
Thanks Mary. We grow grapes on our farm and they do. I think I'll add the texture. - Bill
Thanks Mary. We grow grapes on our farm and they do. I think I'll add the texture. - Bill
Deleted user
Quote from Deleted user on November 24, 2017, 12:06 pm
Bill I'm really late with this but i'll throw it out anyway. I just pencil in the lines, making changes till it looks right and I use a small palm v-chisels, worth every penny for this work! Mary's right, it's a bit difficult on the fine stuff however, if you slow way down and take your time, I think you will find it rewarding. Good luck, if you haven't already finished it.
Bill I'm really late with this but i'll throw it out anyway. I just pencil in the lines, making changes till it looks right and I use a small palm v-chisels, worth every penny for this work! Mary's right, it's a bit difficult on the fine stuff however, if you slow way down and take your time, I think you will find it rewarding. Good luck, if you haven't already finished it.
Robert Allingham@bobabob
25 Posts
Quote from Robert Allingham on November 26, 2017, 4:28 pm
I like it. If I were to change anything, it would be that Cabernet for a Pinot Noir lol.
I like it. If I were to change anything, it would be that Cabernet for a Pinot Noir lol.
Bill Pierce@bpierce
31 PostsTopic Author
Quote from Bill Pierce on January 3, 2018, 11:50 pm
Thanks Robert. For completeness, here is the finished piece in oak. I'm donating this to our community radio station for fundraising.
Thanks Robert. For completeness, here is the finished piece in oak. I'm donating this to our community radio station for fundraising.
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