The biggest challenge I see with this piece is straight lines. Our minds are so well tuned to noticing even the slightest discrepancy in straight lines (and right angles) that they must be nearly perfect. I guess the key here is the absolute straightness of the bottom of the vee. Thank goodness for wide flat chisels.
Now, is the person who assembles the church furniture going to do a lot of sanding on your fine carvings, or leave them as is, with the very distinctive hand carved appearance?
Yes, straight lines and crisp, sharp edges are critical in this - similar to letter carving.
The finished product is simply as-is. No sanding. The "Three Leaf Corner Design" goes with this same pulpit, and that is also left with the final tool marks on it. Shows it isn't bought from Wal-Mart!
Hi Mary,
How about a layered swag; ala Grinling Gibbons. Not too complicated, I'm more interested is seeing the layering process from design to execution. Maybe some florals, nuts and fruits. A smaller wall hanging or a picture frame decoration?
Thanks for the great site Mary. Love it!
The Palmetto tree is an important symbol in South Carolina. Hence, the requests Mary gets for palmettos. In describing the SC flag, Wikipedia says:
"The palmetto tree was added in 1861, also a reference to Moultrie's defense of Sullivan Island; the fortress he'd constructed had survived largely because the palmetto trees, laid over sand walls, were able to withstand British cannons."
Thanks for yet another lesson showing the importance of layering. I assume this will end up as the center decoration for the top face of the mantel. Very attractive!
Thanks for the history lesson! It's a very typical design you see around the Charleston area - and it's important that it is not confused with a "palm tree" which is more what you see in Florida. Yes, this is going to be a center design on a fireplace surround. If you have access to butternut wood, it's a great wood to carve. I don't get much opportunity to work with it.
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