Mermaid Sculpture

I’m always a realist so my comments may not be of much moment. I think I would have liked to see the mermaid’s arms in some graceful movement. Something to match the swaying of the kelp and the flow of the hair. Thanks for sharing this.

-- Thos. Angle

I have a feeling I’m going to have to make something very nice to bounce back from this one. LOL

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

As a cadet carver I appreciate the many hours you’ve invested in this project to arrive at this point.

If I was creating a work of this kind I would spend more time looking at it, from all angles and considering possible future directions, then resume carving maybe then I would consider it complete. I think you’ve achieved stage from which the work can be advanced, I wonder whether the vertical sections ought to be slightly narrower and tapered, this may accentuate the presence of the mermaid.

Well done, this is not a work that I would attempt. Many woodworkers could not visualise and create a work of this type!

Tony Ward

-- Bandsaw Box Plans

very creative!!!
The second to last picture (in my opinion) gives us the best vision of this art. I like it – especially the face, for some reason.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I SUGGEST A GLASS SNOWDOME FILLED WITH LIGHT OIL . OFCORSE THE LAST MERMAID I SAW WAS SITTING AT A BAR, ..... WELL OILED. HA HA !!!. ....VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT …....LUV IT

Overall, another great display of your many talents.

The only constructive criticism I could offer would be along the same lines as Tony. I’d like to see the mermaid emerging from the seaweed…. in other words, have those outer elements be a little shorter to give her more emphasis as the center of the piece.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I think were even, lol
maybe just a little more detail on the mermaid, it was a little hard finding her.
I do like the way the kelp looks.

I agree with Thom, Tony and Charlie, but will add that I think the edges of the kelp, are to rough, they don’t look finished to me. I think the way you made the kelp flow, is great, but the edges don’t match the graceful flowing of the kelp. I would also like to see more definition of the mermaid.

-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"

I think you have a good idea that needs a little refinement. You have an upward movement to it, yet it gets flattened at the top and bottom. I’d say more variation in the heights of the seaweed and let the viewer find the mermaid hiding in the grass like you have it. Also not such a flat bottom. maybe rocks too. You can increase the depth of base to add height also. Just my thoughts, like I said, I think it’s a good plan worth developing. .

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

Very nice! Looks fragile. What carving tools did you use? Where are you going to display it?

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

nice lines and interest.

-- making sawdust....

Sorry, I just don’t “get” it. Need to see the mermaid better, with either the mermaid or the sea stuff as the center of attention.

-- Rich, Seattle, WA

Being fairly new to carving, I find this carving a bit rough. But on the other hand maybe that is the look you were going for.
It appears to be a 1 piece carving. If it is, I and as most should be able to appreciate the talent it takes to carve that in one piece.
I do agree with the others about it needing to have a smoother flow.
All around, 9 on execution 3 on the finish 6 on correctness over all I think it would rate a 6 out of 10 in my book …lol, its a small book so far.
Thanks for the post

-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.

Lots of talent Keith.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Thanks guys, and keep up the candor. Here’s my take. I think it’s a piece of $#%$. I think I invested way to much time into the piece and got to the point to where I quit on it. I basically go to a point and said screw it I’m done. It is carved out of a single piece, and yes it was very difficult to do. The end grain proved to be ruthless as it “chipped out” instead of carved. I have to say that had this been Basswood it would have been a breeze. But I don’t like to take things easy. I haven’t done many carvings in alder and have to say that it’s not that pleasant to carve. It tends to chip more then cut. It is pretty rough simply because I got my idea out and that’s about as far as I wanted to go. I can sand for 2 more days and probably not be happy. I did come out of this with something. Knowledge. Now I know that alder is a pain in the butt, sculpture is harder then it looks, and I’m a quitter. LOL I give the piece a 3 overall, although I do get an A for effort. Trying something out of the norm thrills me. I’ll try a piece again and see if I can get it right. I’ll stick to domestic lumber, maybe walnut. I won’t stoop to basswood. But I don’t know what type of sculpture I’ll do. I’m in the process of sharpening all the chisels so if anyone has any suggestions as to what I should carve I’m open. Thanks guys

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Keith, I like a guy who is so critical of his own work…...........LOL

keep up the great work. How about an eagle carving?

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

I’ll send you my picture if you want to carve me.

I don’t have long flowing hair.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Hey Karson I can make a wood spirit using your picture. It will be father time, displaying what happens with age and to much saw dust. LOL
Cabinetmaster I though about the eagle thing and think it is overly done in sculpture.
HallTree I use mainly two cherries carving and straight chisels. I did end up having to use the die grinder on this piece because of its fragility and angles. I don’t have smooth rasps. Most of the things I have are for roughing so I have to smooth with sand paper and elbo greese. I think that’s why I quit so easily. For the record I never give up if the piece is commissioned or being sold. This was a test to see what I can come up with without a design. More free form. There were no pictures or anything that I was looking at. Just my imagination.
We’ll see where my imagination leads next. I don’t have a table saw or usable bandsaw anymore since I had to shut down my shop. So with a lack of material I’m kind of forced to scrounge around the shop looking for things to do. I should be scrounging the planet for a job. LOL

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

How about trying to carve a Ferris Wheel on a pier with fish jumping out of the water, in one piece…lol that would challenge your talents.
Or how about a surfer on a wave….life like in 1 piece.
I try to think of carving things that are out of the norm. Somthing you havent seen before or most wouldnt think of trying because of the difficulty level.
I currently am carving a piece that is of a spiderweb connected to cat tails with dew drops on it ….no spider.
I am gonna call it” Morning Dew””....the web is out of Orange wood as it is very dense and light in color, and oh so strong.
Good luck on your next carving….cant wait to see it!

-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.

Hey there
I think it shows a lot of creative energy and it is good. I would suggest that you reinvest some time in this as it could be great. My first impression is that it is a little busy. Thin out some of the verticles so we can see the mermaid better. Also consider carving into the base, it does not need to be square, or does it. I think there is still lots to do here and it could be a great piece.
R

-- Rod Baltimore Ontario