[Woodcarver] "High" & "Deep" - Question

[Ivan Whillock]

Deep relief may require undercutting, but undercutting can also  be done on 
reliefs that are not "deep relief."   (All automobiles have wheels, but not 
everything with wheels is an automobile.)

You're right about variations of terms with show organizers.    When 
entering a show, it is best to check on their definitions of terms.  If they 
define "deep relief" as any relief with undercutting, then that's the 
definition you need to go with if you enter that show.  That, however, may 
not be the definition you would find if you were, say, to enter a sculptural 
show where  the more traditional definitions of Bas Relief, Mezzo Relief, 
and Deep Relief are used.

Ivan's soapbox:  Sometimes shows get too wrapped up in placing carvings into 
a particular category.   That loses sight of the purpose of a show, which is 
not to place carvings into correct categories or to test the carver's 
ability to categorize his work, but to recognize good art.  To disqualify a 
good carving because it is in the "wrong" category seems contrary to that 
purpose. (Ivan now jumps down from his soapbox.)

.edu>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 12:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] "High" & "Deep" - Question



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> Ivan,

> Doesn't your definition of Deep relief given here require undercutting?

> It would seem that when you went over 50% on a figure you would be angling

> back to the center of the figure - buildings and cubes withstanding.

>

> I would love to see the definitions of high and low relief from a variety 

> of

> shows. I bet there would be a diversity of opinion, and to get back to the

> original question, I would also think there is no simple answer. In 

> carving

> types of relief are defined by show organizers.

>

> I haven't done many shows recently, but back when I was I can recall times

> when I was disqualified because there was a tiny hole in a relief (by

> design) which they then considered to be a pierced relief, and another 

> time

> a carving which had just been given a best of show award was disqualified

> because a soldier carried a banner with a pole that had been added.

>

> Regards,

>

> Tom

>

> On 8/7/06 9:55 AM, "Ivan Whillock" <carve at whillock.com> wrote:

>

>> DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR 

>> regular

>> mail. Click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html

>> I agree that simplification is useful.  However, using "undercut" as the

>> sole criteria to distinguish "High" and "Low" relief could lead to

>> misinformation rather than clarity.  There are many two and three-inch 

>> deep

>

>> 1.  Deep relief: Figures project at least half their circumfrence from 

>> the

>> background.

>

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