[Woodcarver] How about some basic relief carving techniques?

[Fran Hill]

Wow, Ivan, thank you for this detailed explanation.  I don't know how to use
a router, but my husband could probably help me with that.  I'm saving this
message, and all the other responses I received on this question.  I made
both the mistakes you mentioned, as a beginner.  I have decided I will try a
much less ambitious relief pattern for my first carving of that type.  It
has been hard for me to think in layers like that, but this will really
help.  Thanks so much.
Arkansas Fran

  _____  

From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Ivan Whillock
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 10:09 AM
To: [Woodcarver]
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] How about some basic relief carving techniques?


Fran!
 
For traditional relief carvers, the steps are these:
 
1. Grounding out
2. Layering
3. Shaping 
4. Detailing
 
1. Grounding out.  This is the process of removing the background, or the
deepest portion of the carving.  In a scene, that might be the sky, for
example. In your fireplace picture that may be the back wall and the opening
in the fireplace.   In a decorative carving that would be removing all of
the negative space.  That gives you the deepest point of your carving.  A
rule of thumb is that the deepest point is no lower than halfway down,
preserving the stability of the wood.  That leads you to the next step which
is
 
2. Layering.  This is the more complicated part of the process.  Generally
you try to determine how many layers you need to give the effect you want.
For now you ignore the small details, the "layers within the layers,"  and
work with the main elements.  Try to simplify the process by keeping the
major layers down to three of four at the most.  You do that by studying
your pattern to see what overlaps what.    Your old stone fireplace could
have as few as two or three major levels: the fireplace and the wall behind,
but maybe there is a pile of firewood in front of the fireplace and you'd
really like to give depth to that to make an interesting focal point.  You
can now drop the fireplace back to give emphasis to that.  The fireplace
opening might about the same depth as the wall, which you've already removed
in the blocking out.   A rule of thumb is to make the layers thicker at the
focal point, so that you have plenty of wood to put emphasis there.   You
wouldn't, for example, in a scene make the background hills  thicker than
the cabin in front.  
 
3.  Shaping.  Once you have blocked the layers in, you now start shaping the
forms.  Round the logs, for example, Shape the bucket, etc.
 
4.  The final step, which you should always put off until last, is
detailing.  Put in the brick detail, the rough bark of the logs, etc.
 
As I watch beginners work, they often make two mistakes:  They draw a
complicated pattern onto the wood, and then try to "lower the drawing into
the wood" because they don't want to lose the drawing.  Draw only the lines
you need in order to do the step you are on.  You don't need to draw all of
the bricks on, for example, because you'll just carve them away.  If you are
insecure in your ability to draw the pattern back  free hand, (challenge
yourself to learn how to do that, and carving will get easier for you as you
gain that skill), you can make yourself some pattern pieces that you can
trace on as you need them.
 
Another problem beginners often have is that they get ahead of themselves.
For example, they don't finish removing all the background wood before
starting their layers and then get lost.  Or they'll anxiously move to the
detail before completing the layering, and lose their bearings of where the
layers are or often even have to carve away prior work in order do the step
they should have done earlier.
 
Move logically from one step to the other, think each step over as you
proceed, and it all will start falling into place for you.
 Have fun.  It's just wood, stuff that grows on trees.
 
Ivan Whillock Studio
122 NE 1st Avenue
Faribault, MN  55021
Visit my website at
http://www.whillock.com
Visit my Picture Trail album at
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve
 
ginal Message ----- 

From: Fran Hill <mailto:fran.hill at cox.net>  
To: '[Woodcarver]' <mailto:woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>  
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 8:19 AM
Subject: [Woodcarver] How about some basic relief carving techniques?

Support our List with a donation:
http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
Visit our List Photo Gallery at: http://woodcarver.smugmug.com/
Submit photos to our List Photo Gallery:
http://www.wwwoodcarver.com/Smugmug/SmugmugGallery.html





  _____  




Hi, I have done a woodburning of an old stone fireplace, and it turned out
very nice I thought.  But I think it would make a great relief carving, with
maybe some burning for additional shading.  However.......I transferred the
whole thing and started carving....Well, of course, I carved away most of my
whole pattern.  I am trying to figure out how far to go because this
fireplace has things in front of it like the old pokers and a small bucket
of wood.  At first I thought the mantle should be the farthest thing to the
front, but now, I see that the things in front should be out farther than
the mantle.  Anyway, you can imagine what a muddle my board is in.  Does
anyone have any sort of 1,2,3 beginning steps for planning a relief carving?
I think my original plan is now pretty much beyond salvaging. 
 
 It seems like it shouldn't be so hard to figure out which layers to start
with, but wow, have I got my head into a muddle.  Any advice?  Or any
recommendations of books with good basic instructions on the relief style of
carving?  I really LOVE what others have done - I see so much depth and
definition in relief carvings, and while I admire the carvings in the round,
I don't think I'm capable of much in that department.  But maybe with some
guidance, I could do this type of carving.
Any help appreciated.
Arkansas Fran

  _____  

From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Linehan718 at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 11:30 PM
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] why



 
What actually fueled my posts about the drop in emails was the other day
when I opened my mail, only to find about 30 messages from pyro lists I'm
on, 25 from the sculptures lists and another 20 or so from a woodcraft list.
guess what, 3 carving emails and not even carving but chat related(I am not
against chat). I wondered why the other hobbies and crafts were going
strong, while all the carving lists were  pretty quiet and chatting  a lot.
It started me thinking about all the great discussions I used to get
involved in, both as learner and helper.  I also recalled that roughly 3 or
4 months ago, when waiting for the results of Matt Kelleys WOM pencil
contest, the issue seemed to be delayed quite a while. I  laughingly thought
to myself that they must be having a problem with "Notes from the net"
column since there hadn't been any decent carving discussions lately.  This
is not just a summer problem, or going away on vacation thing.  I have
definitely noticed a huge drop off in posts over at least the last year,
perhaps year and a half on all of the carving lists, even those that permit
chatting.  what I see is newbies joining and introducing themselves, maybe a
few replys and then the handful of regular posters go back to chatting,
maybe discuss some traveling to and from shows and the price of gas(yes all
woodcarving related).  There haven't been any real in depth topics discussed
lately and only a handful in recent memory. Then someone posts and asks why
we are all chatting and not helping him learn.  At first I was a little put
off by him and told him he needed to ask specific questions to get answers
but then I realized  the guy just wanted to absorb and learn as I did when I
joined some 5 years ago.  Yes I asked questions and got a ton of answers but
I also learned a lot listening to other peoples questions and answers.
There isn't much of that anymore, just an occasional interesting post. I
just wondered what was going on.  
 
To the new carvers who are just lurking about, we are here to help you but
can't if there are no questions to answer.  There are very knowledgeable
people, who know all about tools, construction, design, wood, carving
techniques, painting, burning and finishing.  Please don't be shy or
intimidated.  Most members remember me when I joined, big mouth, very
enthusiastic, would ask the stupidest questions, Im sure they could say
worse about me.  but boy did these guys and girls propel me to new heights.
I never imagined that I would be doing what I do now.  In short, you will
only get out of these lists what you put into them.  My personal mentor and
friend Charles Post has been diagnosed with end stage cancer and is nearing
the end of his days and recently gave me his toolbox(lord did the tears
stream down my face).  He asked me that I keep on with my carving and that I
bring others along behind me. 
 
So lets go newbies, what are you working on, what do you need to learn.

Maura Carving in NYC
www.carvinginnyc.com <http://www.carvinginnyc.com/> 








  _____  

Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com
<http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000982> .



  _____  




_______________________________________________
Woodcarver mailing list
Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/woodcarver/attachments/20070901/e3a08e67/attachment.html>