Thread: Sun Lover

I can see why you need something else with the white. I prefer the natural ones as it has a more earthy feel.

Just right. Nice boat, too. Had forgotten how big the pods are.

Hi Christos, The natural pods polished up are definitely the more popular.

RV, That particular pod is 890mm I only use the use up to about a meter, over that they look too big.

Well I've never even seen such a seed pod before although I can well see that they look elegant & would look great on the dining table.
I think your idea of adding a nude was a good one but I doubt very seriously whether anyone will pay you anywhere enough to justify the time that it took to carve.
Truth is woodcarving is the most under rated & unappreciated at art form on the planet !
People have no idea how difficult or time consuming it is, they'll say to you " HOW MUCH ? - just for a piece of wood " ! but I've never heard " How much ? - just for a few pigments smeared on canvas " said about painting !

Hi Mike, Totally agree with you regarding the selling of carvings, people say they really like your work until you tell them how much. They have no concept of the time it takes to hand carve something. Anyway the reason I carved the nude was purely to gauge if I had improved much on that concept, I did a couple after the first year carving and wanted to see what I could do now. I still struggle with faces hair and hands but overall it's starting to get easier. If someone comes along and wants it well that just a bonus. I've posted a few pictures of the natural seed pods I have sold, they work well as fruit boats

To be anatomically precise, her breasts are fake. From the side, the shape is biological but
as in the first pic, the cleavage is silicone narrow = maybe sponsorship from Goodyear.
Look at the real things from the same perspective = they form left and right, wider than you have carved.

However. When she stands up, I wouldn't be too fussy.

Wow ! yes nature surely is the best sculptor ! Those seed pods look great.

I think carving a good nude is the hardest test of both art & craft skills, equalled only by portraiture.
For us mere mortals, if we can improve over time with each attempt we should be satisfied with that.

Originally Posted by Robthechisel

....people say they really like your work until you tell them how much. .....

This happens with lots of handmade stuff now.

she has short legs

l still find it hard to carve faces around the chin and mouth area

Hi folks, Thanks for the comments, I'm very open to critique as it's the way i'll improve as I'm pretty much just trying to teach myself.
I think my problems here come from the initial cutting out, I took lots of measurements etc but I had to cut her a bit skinnier in the end due a split on the back, RV, your right about the breasts I contemplated making them a lot smaller to compensate for not spreading them properly but implants are popular these days aren't they?
In hindsight I should have taken the time to make a plasticine model first. Spirit, yeah her legs are probably a tad short but I've got short legs too, only 5'4", I'm the guy who complains to the council they have made the pavements too close to my backside. Yes I will have another go down the track, it was an improvement on what I had previously done so hopefully I'll improve again next time. Got other plans at the moment, for the next project I'm going to attempt some wood fruit for one of the pods, something I haven't tried before.
Mike, your right nature is certainly the best sculptor, I pick the pods up for nothing around the place and takes about 30 mins to polish them up and varnish them. Just posted a pic of my orchid plant just starting to flower which proves once again, natures the best.