Finally! With all the projects going on around our spread at the moment I actually found the time to finish this little scene. I think it turned out real well even if I did have to change a few of the original ideas I had back when I started. Some always ask how long does something like the take to finish? Well, I did the coffin about 4 years ago so it takes a while before some of these things finally take root and sprout. There are a lot more photos in the Gallery and your comments are always welcome.
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On a different but sort of associated note......A recent comment was received complaining about how I show some things but never seem to finish or get back to them. A couple cases in point would be the WW2 head study and the recent Road Agent post. Well, here's the way it is and the way it will continue to be: I work at my own pace. My interests wax and wane depending on a number of things. Sometimes I'll see or think of an idea that I will think will be a great carving then completely forget about it and move along with something else. I've always wanted to do a piece with a soldier and I did that head just for a glimpse of what it might look like. Maybe someday I'll get enthused about it again but not for a while. The Road Agents head is setting partially done on my work bench but it too might have to wait while I hope to get started on the Sheepherders scene. Would really like to get that one done before the Dayton show this year. So, there you have it. The purpose of this blog is to share with those of you who are interested in what I'm doing and what I might do. No apologies...just trying to let you know how my creative process works.
Now, back to that shower leak!
Lots of really wonderful details and surprises in that scene, should get a lot of positive response at Dayton. Is the sheepherder scene going to include the wagon you made earlier?
ReplyDeleteGlad you all are back and hope you get the plumbing whipped back into submission soon. Was great to see you posting again.
Thanks Kent. Yes, that scene will be centered around the wagon. Really looking forward to getting started on it as I have a lot of really neat ideas to incorporate.
ReplyDeleteLynn,
ReplyDeleteDon't change a thing. You are offering up a side of you that you don't have to share at all, but you are willing to share to make others insight and make other carvers better and I thank you for your blog and videos.
Mark
Canton MI
Hey Lynn, those are important characteristics of a creative person.....please don't change! Besides, it adds to the element of mystery for those of us who follow you......we never really know what to expect! I really enjoy that about your blog and the projects you expose me too.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Chuck
Lynn: Having the grave digger sitting on the edge with his back to the viewer adds so much more interest and intrigue to that carving. It's briliant both in concept and creativity. Glad you ponder on your projects as the thought process you give to detail & change lets us see how artistic one can be before the finished product. Keep on keeping on!
ReplyDeleteJust Love Done Gone Under!! You are so good at what you do!!It's just GREAT!! Thanks for sharing you great,carvings. It give us hope that one day .. Oh, well you know...My best wishes for you at Dayton..give Miss Judy a hug and thanks again. Mary Anne
ReplyDeleteMr. Doughty, You continue to work at your own pace. Who ever is complaining should go somewhere else and pay for the information you so give freely.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, LOVE THE SCENE!
Lynn,
ReplyDeleteWe seem to be living in an age where people just complain about everything. I use my carving to get away from the world of complaints. Those of us who really appreciate you sharing with us your creativity, artistic wisdom, and the knowledge of carving, love the way you handle your site. I have learned considerably from your wealth of carving and your generousity of sharing it with us, and did I mention that you freely give to us your time and projects!!!! Please keep up your great work and don't change a thing.
Your friend and fellow carver,
Bob (Moose) Cisko
I suspect you have heard it said that some folks are so cantankerous that they would complain if they were hung by a new rope or shot with by with unused bullet! There is just no pleasing those folks.
ReplyDeleteThe information shared so freely with us is phenomenal. It's sad that someone would complain.
May I ask, how deep is the hole? Looking at the pictures (photo 31 of 33) it appears that the hole is deep enough for the grave diggers legs below the knees and his boots. At the same time, the 'dirt' doesn't seem heaped high enough to accommodate a digger's legs and boots. Is this merely a camera angle or have you performed another piece of magic to make this work?
Thanks Lynn for the continuing inspiration!
LMiller
Fantastic Lynn.......
ReplyDeleteBoy! You guys are getting technical. I never really considered the dirt pile to hole ratio as I don't think it's really important. You're right that the hole is as deep as all the bases combined less than a piece of 18" plywood ... about 3 inches I guess. So 3 more inches would put him in about 6 feet in scale. I guess he'll have to shovel the rest over on the front side being as they placed the coffin on top of the other pile. I just did as much as I thought would carry the story and I think I hit it pretty close. It's not really a camera angle as much as it is your imagination accepting things as being as they should be. If you actually measured the hole compared to the coffin you'd find that it's to narrow to fit. The poor fellas body is shorter than the others but that too is not really noticed by the viewer .... it's just accepted. If I made everything in actual scale it wouldn't be as appealing. This is where caricature comes into play. Done correctly it allows you to enlarge or reduce things but still make them appear correct to the overall scene. Hope that is clear enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking that question as I think it is really the key to a good caricature scene. When I see other scenes by other artists I always view them through a critical eye to see just how they work or whether they don't work. I recently saw another caricature body in a coffin where the coffin was much too large. Good coffin...good body but they just didn't go together so it didn't work...at least not for me. You can get away with a lot when doing caricatures but there are still rules that you have to follow to get the best result.
Thanks so much for the explanation!!!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't considered the application of a "caricature's scale" to a full scene -- only to the characters. You have enlightened us and given us even more to contemplate in the creation of a scene. Sure, things like complimentary colors throughout a scene would come to mind, but the idea of overall scale and its manipulation in adding to the overall appeal of a scene was something I wouldn't have even thought about.
Thanks again Lynn for helping gain insights to this art form from the perspective of a master!
LMiller
I cant believe a great site like this someone can complain about it.guess you cant please everybody. keep up the good work lynn and thank you.
ReplyDeleteSkip
I am 68 years old I used to carve a little in my younger years but since the onset of Multiple Sclerosis at age 35 and my inability to be able to be employed anymore I have gone into limbo and done nothing of any consequence for the past 33 years Since I found Lynn on the web and admired with envy his fantistic work I am inspired to try and do a little carving with I hope a great deal of help from the master if he has the time and the patience.He talks about being in the mood for creativity and I don't blame him I wallowed in self pity at my lack of enthuasim for the last 33 years but I am going to try, a little late in life but who knows maybe I will be as good as the master Lynn.
ReplyDeleteLynn,thought I'd throw my two cents in for what it's worth. I like the way you do things,at your own pace. You are an artist not a carving factory, work when the mood hit and quit when it's gone. I have been following your blog for some time now and I want you to know that you have made me a better carver, my peices look better and are arranged nicer, and my bases set off the carving not just hold it up. So thank you, I appreciate what you do, keep it up friend.
ReplyDeleteRobert Bruins
Lynn, I like the guy sitting on the edge of the hole with his back to the front. It is a good concept, it makes the viewer want to turn the carving and view from the back. Excellent!
ReplyDelete