Neander carving effort

[Joel Ficke]

I was just reading Nathan's essay on woodworking shows (great read btw)

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=67662

and thought back to the last few quiet weekends for me in the shop. There's something way past just reaching the end product when it comes to handwork. Anyway, thought you might like to see the practice carving - 17th century clock cartouche.



Kind of bulky yet, so critical feedback appreciated.

Larger photos can be viewed at

[Jim Becker]

Um...........wow.........! Nice work. And "just" a practice piece, eh?

[Dan Barr]

holy cow!

very nice. Lots of detail and nice proportions too!

V/R

Dan

[Zahid Naqvi]

If this is your practice piece I'd like to very much see what you consider a production piece.

[John Timberlake]

Very nice. Don't think you need to "practice" any more. And you are right that the process is frequently more important than the product. The enjoyment of learning and doing is the reason I do woodworking, not just to make things.

[Mel Reed]

I would love to have yhat practice piece.Very nice.

[Bill White]

Nah!!! Ya really didn't do that. I can spot a CarveRight a mile away........
Just kiddin'.
Great work.
Bill

[Mike Henderson]

That looks great! How do you lay out the work? Do you have a pattern or did you draw the design yourself, perhaps using an original as a guide?

Teriffic work.

Mike

[Calvin Hobbs]

Joel,

Nice work as usual. Very clean. You did say "17th century" clock cartouche, right? This looks to be right out of 1760 Philadelphia Chippendale/Rococco.

Did you angle the cartouche out for better viewing, as I have seen on some?

How's it coming on your Queen Anne chairs? CH

[Ralph Dobbertin]

Hey Joel: Hope all is well with you. I just took a carving course with a great master carver named Dimitrios Klitsas just outside of Boston. If I were you I'd look him up at www.klitsas.com and email him for his thoughts on your cartouche. He will blow you away. Let him know I suggested you connect with him. Also: let me know what his suggestions were. He will be very helpful. I suspect that he will give you some very good suggestions.

I was just reading Nathan's essay on woodworking shows (great read btw)

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=67662

and thought back to the last few quiet weekends for me in the shop. There's something way past just reaching the end product when it comes to handwork. Anyway, thought you might like to see the practice carving - 17th century clock cartouche.



Kind of bulky yet, so critical feedback appreciated.

Larger photos can be viewed at

[Joel Ficke]

Thanks for the encouragement.

Calivn - Good catch. I meant to say 1700s not 17th century. Yes it's angled for better viewing once placed on top of a tall chest or clock. In fact, not only is the base angled, but the entire carving is somewhat concave -- that's part of what makes carving these tricky IMO. And no progress on the chair or clock -- day (err very long day) job getting in the way, but hopefully this winter will bring more shop happiness.

Mike - Definitely not my own design. The best approach (and the one I used here) is to get a good photo of the original straight down and from the side. Once these are scaled to the desired size, you have a pretty good idea how it looks 3 dimensionally. Band saw to rough shape and start hogging the rest with gouges. To me, the hardest part is the top plume and making final piece look delicate. Almost every pattern is back-relieved to make it appear as if lifting from the surface etc. Mine is still too bulky, but not sure how best to lighten it up more....

Ralph - Glad to hear you had a good experience with Dimitrios Klitsas. I'ld like to study with him some day. Most of my carving instruction has taken place with Gene Landon -- I'm waiting to get his impression of this cartouche during class at Olde Mill this weekend.