[halfacre]

Thanks to you Phil this is what I did while waiting for a rebuilt tower to show up. I guess this is what I visualized for the flowers seemed to be the main subject and I'm sure the next guy that takes a crack at turning your picture in to wood will be a world of difference.
The scroll saw cut this thing in to 32 pieces so I could hold the small things in my hands while the grinders did their thing.

A little different than the picture I took of your picture. And by the time I had Rapid Resizer enlarge it and make a copy to glue on to the wood I had a distorted mess because my printer was running out of ink before one picture came out....
I always print out two pictures so I can have one to go by trying to decide what and where to saw it up and another to glue on the wood.

I took my picture and traced lines where I thought I needed to do the sawing..

Its all hardwood, maple and ash

 

[Phil32]

Wow, I wondered why a posting would be about my picture. Now I know.
This "Rose & Laurel Spray" was a design of Lora (Susan) Irish in an old book of Classic Carving Patterns. I'm really pleased when something I've done inspires other LJs. Hopefully, M.C. Escher would be pleased with what I've done with his graphic designs.

 

[Dark_Lightning]

WOW. That's beautiful!

 

[ClaudeF]

Great! The subtle use of the wash colors on the flowers is outstanding!

Claude

 

[Phil32]

I think I'll strip (or carve) the dark stain off the roses in my version of that pattern and redo it like yours.

 

[halfacre]

Phil I used Elmers no drip glue or it might say no run? I don't use it often just for special things. Then after that sets up I have a long needle syringe with some water downed regular Elmers to reach in and around the petals just to make it more sturdy.
I think I posted a picture how I cut the petals with the scroll saw. If not I will have to take more pictures of the things I use. When my computer quit there are about 5500 pictures I been collecting of my stuff and the steps I used plus about half the pictures are of things I was interested in carving.
It usually takes me about a week to complete most all the things I have carved since 2016 when I first started doing this. I told maw I was never going to do anything flat any more for that is all I ever did since about 1955..
I really enjoy this type of stuff I do for it goes fast and I do believe I'm get better with each piece I finish so this makes me more anxious to start another but at the same time I decided if a person completes a project to do the very best he can possibly do for a persons name goes with each thing that reaches the public....

 

[Phil32]

As stated above, I've decided to carve off some of the dark stain on the flowers of this carving. Here's the result of about 20 minutes of work: A few more minutes and it might be ready for "flower painting" - maybe Ivory.

 

[halfacre]

As stated above, I've decided to carve off some of the dark stain on the flowers of this carving. Here's the result of about 20 minutes of work: A few more minutes and it might be ready for "flower painting" - maybe Ivory.
View attachment 3865200

As stated above, I've decided to carve off some of the dark stain on the flowers of this carving. Here's the result of about 20 minutes of work: A few more minutes and it might be ready for "flower painting" - maybe Ivory.
View attachment 3865200

I like your second decision over the all one color thingy. It gives the eyes more to look at if one doesn't like dark wood.
Halfacre

 

[halfacre]

I like your second decision over the all one color thingy. It gives the eyes more to look at if one doesn't like dark wood.
Halfacre

This carving I did I left little cup type things I built the flowers in those little cups then after all was painted, glued the completed flower in the hole built for each one.

 

[Phil32]

This discussion demonstrates "there is more than one way to skin a , , ," - Oh no, not that quote. There are various approaches to carving an idea in wood, all of them valid.
I didn't paint the roses, by the way. I just gave them a clear finish.

 

[halfacre]

Phil, this is why I like to have multi colors in my building of things. It was a lesson I learned the long hard way but this satisfies more folks. I like for everyone who looks at my things to let me know what they think would make it better.. and one person said just throw it in the trash. Ruff on your ego but..... I use to say, don't tell me anything, I know better than you, ha, I started out with the wrong approach...Now it seems like I am trying to make all the kids happy. We maybe so for that's what we were long ago.

 

[halfacre]

I agree with ClaudeF and with each thing I build I seem to be using less color and more thinner in the air brush.

 

[Phil32]

Woodcarvers often struggle with what viewers see in their work. Sometimes a carving that's very smooth and painted is assumed to be plastic. So we use a natural finish and leave a few tool marks to make it obvious that the carving is "hand carved." If the wood has a grain figure like Butternut, we hate to cover the grain with color or stain. With a complex design like many reliefs, color or selectively applied stain is helpful to visually separate the design elements.