Re: African Mask Low Relief Carving
Irish_158.jpg
Here is where we are at for today's carving.
While we are here I wanted to return to the steps that we just completed in an overall general process. I am sure that you have noted how I seem to 'jump' from one area of the carving back to another. I will work the eye brows for a bit then move to the decorative triangle. From there I move to the eye lids, then back to center of the forehead.
I prefer to work a large area at a time, not individual elements in that area. I have found that even small changes in one area of the carving effect all the rest of that larger area.
As an example - tapering and rounding over the eye brows made me realize that the straight wall under the lower eye brow did not work well with the downward curve of the eye pad area and needed to be rounded into the brow.
Once the eye brows had been reworked and now even in size, shape and depth I could see that the decorative triangle was out of alignment ... so I moved back to that area to adjust it.
If, instead, I completely carved the headdress then completely carved the eye brows then completely carved the eye lids I would not be able to make those small changes that unite each area or element into a finished face.
At this point in the carving I am treating everything above the lower eye lids and the crease line on the outside of the eye not as individual elements but as one very large element.
This style of carving, for me, let's me adapt, change and adjust any area in the work at any time ... and therefore I have more control over how everything comes together in the end of the carving steps.
Susan
Irish_158.jpg
Here is where we are at for today's carving.
While we are here I wanted to return to the steps that we just completed in an overall general process. I am sure that you have noted how I seem to 'jump' from one area of the carving back to another. I will work the eye brows for a bit then move to the decorative triangle. From there I move to the eye lids, then back to center of the forehead.
I prefer to work a large area at a time, not individual elements in that area. I have found that even small changes in one area of the carving effect all the rest of that larger area.
As an example - tapering and rounding over the eye brows made me realize that the straight wall under the lower eye brow did not work well with the downward curve of the eye pad area and needed to be rounded into the brow.
Once the eye brows had been reworked and now even in size, shape and depth I could see that the decorative triangle was out of alignment ... so I moved back to that area to adjust it.
If, instead, I completely carved the headdress then completely carved the eye brows then completely carved the eye lids I would not be able to make those small changes that unite each area or element into a finished face.
At this point in the carving I am treating everything above the lower eye lids and the crease line on the outside of the eye not as individual elements but as one very large element.
This style of carving, for me, let's me adapt, change and adjust any area in the work at any time ... and therefore I have more control over how everything comes together in the end of the carving steps.
Susan
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