[Woodcarver] What is relief carving?

[Bill Judt]

Dave:

The grape vine in the carving in question is only undercut, but thanks 
for the compliment of mistaking it as a separate piece glued on.

This reminds me of a time I was displaying my carvings in a local mall 
about 15 years ago. A fellow approached my display and took 
considerable time closely observing the carvings. He looked to me as a 
good prospect for a "sale".

After about ten minutes, he came up to me and asked if I had glued the 
figures onto the background.
I replied that I hadn't, that I had only taken away the wood around the 
figures.
He protested that this didn't make sense, and that I MUST HAVE glued 
the figures to the background.
Again I stated that this was not the case, and that "undercutting" was 
responsible for the appearance that the figures had been "applied".

The fellow got quite agitated, clearly angered that I was not being up 
front with him, and he blurted out "Admit it!!! You glued those pieces 
to the background".

Not wanting to escalate the argument any further, I leaned close to him 
and whispered in his ear "You're right. I did glue them on".

His face lit up with a self-righteous smile and he walked away.

Blessings and Peace,

Bill
List Owner
********************************************
W.F. Judt,
46 Harvard Cres,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7H3R1
PH: 306-373-6649
Email: bjudt at sasktel.net
Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com
On Dec 30, 2003, at 1:21 PM, David Andreychek wrote:

> 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