Thread: WIP - Lost his teeth but still smiling!

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Just about ready for final details and cleaning up.

Well time to make a decision re the eyes. The 'classical' no pupil look doesn't quite work for me, and my wife reckons the no pupil look is creepy. I did a few tests and decided to go with something simple.

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Simple or not, these cuts were easily the most difficult of the job so far.

The eyes are a great improvement fyarsk me Phil.
I have seen the pupils done as well on some carvings that have looked pretty good.
Here is one example by Michaelangelo. It is in marble I think, but the pupils work quite well. They really give the dainty looking bloke with grapes in his hair a directional gaze. (If you will excuse the artspeak).
carving with pupils 001.jpg You might want to click on it to make it a bit larger.

Those wrinkles have been finished very well indeed, you may consider it sacriledge in a wood forum but I almost wish the figure in the wood wasn't there to obscure !

Hi Mike
It's interesting that you feel the grain distracts/detracts from the appearance. My feeling was that the grain kind of implied more wrinkles. Looking at the carved wrinkles in the magnified photo I think there is still some work to do on the finish!

AB
I got quite anxious at the idea of tracing the shape of the cornea, adding a pupil is probably bridge too far. I am going to practice some alternatives as I agree the pupil undoubtedly adds something to the overall effect.

This is going brilliantly , it is perhaps he profound appreciation of the sculptural aspect which prompted the comment, just dismiss it , you quite obviously know very well were you are going. I certainly agree with AB.'s suggestion about the eyes. This is an absolute cracker !
I'm certain that when there's a finish on I'll be very pleased it was in wood !

'you quite obviously know very well were you are going'
Oh how I laughed

To suggest I know where I am going might be drawing a long bow. My original plan was to use the piece of blackwood for this
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but felt the pronounced grain might be inappropriate for such a clear complexion. Gaspar's complexion on the other hand could hardly be described as clear so I had no such reservations.

Philip.

Going great Phil, I love the flow of the grain and when the finish is on it should give a more weather beaten look to the face. Look forward to seeing it finished.

Originally Posted by HuonPhil

'you quite obviously know very well were you are going'
Oh how I laughed

To suggest I know where I am going might be drawing a long bow. My original plan was to use the piece of blackwood for this
tangledroots1.jpg
but felt the pronounced grain might be inappropriate for such a clear complexion. Gaspar's complexion on the other hand could hardly be described as clear so I had no such reservations.
Philip.

Good call Philip. I agree wholeheartedly. Making pronounced figuring work in a bust rarely works out satisfactorily.
Peter

After a couple of days away from home for our son's wedding, Gaspar is now finished.

I decided to take AB's advice and add the iris to the eye - after all there doesn't seem to be much point putting up your work and asking for advice if you then ignore it. I have to say, the eyes seem so much more convincing now.

Finish - sanded to 180 grit on his cap only, for most of the rest just a light scraping and for the recessed sections at the shoulders straight off the tool. Then 2 coats of Danish oil light sand and wax.

As always feel free to praise/criticise.

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Oh, and for the record, now that he is finished I have renamed him 'Big Ed'

Sometimes I think it's a pity that praise is lavished too freely because when you get a carving as good as this there are no stronger/higher words of praise left to use!
Technically it's excellent in terms of cleaness of carving & anatomical accuracy but much more importantly it conveys the spirit of the old guy perfectly, old but not worn out inside, indeed - lost his teeth but still smiling !
All art & especially carving is about making a long series of decisions, starting with what shall I carve , in which wood & going onwards through , all of that- how much shall I take of here? where next? & what's wrong ! , how shall I do the eyes & what finish shall I use ?
It's easy to lose confidence at times , it's a wonder anybody ever gets to finishing anything ! let alone feel pleased or satisfied with the results of what can be long & arduous labour.
And NO ! you can't go back & change a wrong decision you'll have to live with it or adapt your initial ideas , it's challenging - this carving thing ! but when it all comes right , it is worth it & you have your finished caving as a trophy.
Take a minute to savour the victory Phil because soon you will forget any difficulties & within days, hours even ! you'll be thinking " What shall I do next ?".

I like it.

Well done Phil, big Ed is a beauty for a bloke so crinkly, As Mike says, carving can be very unforgiving sometimes. That's certainly one to be very proud of.

I must say that I really did enjoy following your journey. I was not sure what to actually expect with the end result. It has come up quite a treat.

I like the way the shadows are formed around the face and under his cap.