Project by Druid | posted 04-06-2015 01:22 AM | 2300 views | 1 time favorited | 24 comments | ![]() |
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I was just writing a note to another LJ member, describing how the grain of a piece of wood can sometimes distract from, or add to the effect of a carving. I then looked across the room at a Stylized Loon that I carved a few years ago, but for some reason I never posted it here. I found that while the wings are totally smooth, the grain pattern tends to fool the viewer’s eye into thinking that some carving was done to give the impression of feathers. On the other hand, if this same piece of wood had been used for a carving of a face, the grain would become a distraction if it showed a similar pattern across the cheeks or forehead.
The wood used for the body was Butternut, and the head was Basswood. I must admit it was a fun carving to do.
Just a bit of musing on considering the wood grain vs the item being carved.
Enjoy.
-- John, British Columbia, Canada
24 comments so far
Jim Jakosh
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26105 posts in 4167 days
#1 posted 04-06-2015 01:26 AM
Excellent carving!
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
Sheila Landry (scrollgirl)
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#2 posted 04-06-2015 01:37 AM
It’s beautiful! How lovely! :)
Sheila
-- Designer/Artist/Teacher. Owner of Sheila Landry Designs (http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com) Scroll saw, wood working and painting patterns and surfaces. "Knowledge is Power"
firefighterontheside
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#3 posted 04-06-2015 01:51 AM
Love a loon.
-- Bill M. "People change, walnut doesn't" by Gene.
kiefer
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#4 posted 04-06-2015 02:03 AM
I like that John and see what you are saying about the grain it just flows along the body and over the wings beautifully .
There is much to say about wood grain in other applications as well and a piece can be ruined in a hurry but it’s sometimes noticed too late .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
lew
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#5 posted 04-06-2015 02:28 AM
I cannot imagine how you saw that “in your mind” and be able to release it from the wood.
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.
Druid
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#6 posted 04-06-2015 02:57 AM
Lew – I guess it’s something like picturing a magnificent rolling pin design in your mind, and you do it all the time.
-- John, British Columbia, Canada
Celticscroller
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#7 posted 04-06-2015 03:25 AM
A very beautiful piece John.
-- Anna, Richmond BC
Druid
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#8 posted 04-06-2015 05:14 AM
Thank you all for the nice comments on my Looney project. My wife liked it, so it’s hers.
-- John, British Columbia, Canada
sharad
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#9 posted 04-06-2015 09:34 AM
John you have nicely conveyed the importance of wood grain through this marvelous carving. How do you finish this type of carvings?
Sharad
-- “If someone feels that they had never made a mistake in their life, then it means they have never tried a new thing in their life”.-Albert Einstein
Roger
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#10 posted 04-06-2015 01:14 PM
That is absolutely beautiful and so smooth.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
helluvawreck
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#11 posted 04-06-2015 02:37 PM
John, I really like this. It’s simple and elegant.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
Woodbridge
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#12 posted 04-06-2015 05:10 PM
beautiful carving!
-- Peter, Woodbridge, Ontario
Druid
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#13 posted 04-06-2015 09:35 PM
Thanks again to all for the kind comments.
Sharad - The finish that I generally use is Claphams Beeswax Polish, and I use a buffing wheel (or buff by hand if there are areas which might catch on a buffing wheel) to do the polishing. The first application initially works the polish into the grain, and I buff until the surface becomes warm to the touch so that the wax content melts and goes into the grain more readily. I then let the item cool before adding any additional coats. I then usually wait 24 hours and do a final very light polish to complete the job. – Here’s the link to the supplier where I purchase mine . . .
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=20089&cat=1,190,42950
-- John, British Columbia, Canada
stefang
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#14 posted 04-07-2015 12:31 PM
An excellent carving John. A great example of how thoughtful use of the wood can add so much to a carving. That butternut has a beautiful understated beauty. My wife likes it a lot too. She is addicted to birds and we have many in various materials in our house.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway.
sharad
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1119 posts in 4866 days
#15 posted 04-07-2015 03:15 PM
Thanks John for the details on the finish and the link. I have done wax polishing a couple of times but never thought of buffing it till warm for the wax to enter the grains. I got a very important tip.
Sharad
-- “If someone feels that they had never made a mistake in their life, then it means they have never tried a new thing in their life”.-Albert Einstein
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