[Woodcarver] What is relief carving?

[Ivan Whillock Studio]

A good summary from an online art glossary:  (containing essentially the
same info from my college sculpture courses.)
 http://www.bronze-busts.com/sculpture_dictionary_sculpture_glossary.html

Relief
In sculpture, any work that projects from the background. Reliefs are
classified by degree of projection. Relief sculpture is distinguished from
sculpture in the round. In a bas relief (low relief or basso-relievo in
Italian), the figures project only slightly and no part is entirely detached
from the background (as in medals, coins, or areas of large reliefs in which
the chief effect is produced by the play of light and shadow). In a haut
relief sculpture (high relief or alto-rilievo), the figures project at least
half of their natural circumference from the background. Between these two
is the demi relief (half-relief or mezzo-relievo). The lowest degree of
relief in which the projection barely exceeds the thickness of a sheet of
paper is called a crushed relief (relievo sticciato or schiacciato). There
is also a relief in reverse, called hollow relief, in which all the carving
lies within a hollowed-out area below the surface plane, and which, through
an illusion of depth and roundness, looks like raised relief. Hollow relief,
also called sunk or concave relief (cavo-relievo), incised relief
(intaglio-rilievato) are the kind of carving done on gems by the Greeks and
Romans. Reliefs may be carved from hard materials or modelled in wet clay,
softened wax, or plaster.

I would add pierced relief, in which the background is entirely removed.

Ivan Whillock Studio
122 NE 1st Avenue
Faribault, MN 55021
Visit my website at
 http://www.whillock.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: "David Andreychek" <chipps96 at mindspring.com>
To: <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 1:21 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] What is relief carving?


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> Carvin' friends,
>
> I am looking thru my new book, Inspirational Relief Carving by Bill Judt
> and found a pattern for a grape vine. It is carved so well that it
> appears that the grape vine was carved separately  and glued to the
> background.  Which leads me to the question.....
>
> Is carving a figure and then attaching it to a background considered
> relief carving?   The back of the figure is not carved, but flat.
>
> Also In Bill's book is a pattern for an angel blowing a trumpet.  It is
> a flat carving - I mean that it could be  less than 1" thick and 12"
> long with the back not carved, and meant to be hung on a wall.  Is this
> considered relief carving?
>
> I was under the impression that relief carving was using one piece of
> wood with lots and lots and lots and lots (phew) of undercutting.
>
> Comments?
>
> Dave
>
>
>
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