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Rock Art => Carvings and Sculptures => Topic started by: Asianfire on January 12, 2018, 03:39:13 PM
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After months without inspiration to start anything new, 2018 seems to start well.
Just takes a bit as I cut outdoors and in the moment the weather is certainly not inviting.
Somehow around New Year, I got Elephant into my mind and it stuck with me for a few days, so I started a freehand piece just to see where it would go.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/39559192892_c024f4e3f9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23gHcPS)ppeleph 1 plu 2 (https://flic.kr/p/23gHcPS) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
One kept breaking off, but the Slag from England held up.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4666/38879836374_89c060c124_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22eFjNs)ppbest (https://flic.kr/p/22eFjNs) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
No tusks yet. Will wait for that till the next two catch up.
Up next, a bit better planed (lets see if that helps). One in Chinese nephrite, where I hope the rind will give me a two-tone effect, and an Australian Black Jade (a material that has been kind to me).
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4715/38693766295_9fb2daea23_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21XeEDD)Jade project (https://flic.kr/p/21XeEDD) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Early release from school today allowed for a little session to start cutting the elephants.
Australian jade needs recessing lower parts of the ears and then find a way to optically fit onset of tusks.
I think, overall shape of ears and head should be ok for the time being.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4763/39649847611_b99ced1128_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23pHQjg)Australian Jade rough cut (https://flic.kr/p/23pHQjg) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
The Chinese nephrite is a bit more trickier. Trying to use the red/orange tone from the rind. So started testing viability on the ears. Will have to thin it out, but again, I think it could work.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4724/24780818117_4d54bbd80a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DKNaSM)Chinese Nephrite rough cut (https://flic.kr/p/DKNaSM) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Thanks for looking, Kurt
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I enjoy your carving.
I like how you are trying the harness the qualities of the material to create the various elephants. The finished Chinese Nephrite ought to be intriguing. I want to see how that two-tone effect finally plays out.
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Looking good Kurt, will be interested to see how you go maintaining the textures.
David
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Easy part is done, now to sanding and polish.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4670/27944396909_bc71a13d97_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JzmkCH)Kainzer Kurt (https://flic.kr/p/JzmkCH) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
tricky to get to the left onset of the trunk, so not done yet
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4654/27944397659_417d7d4b7b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JzmkRD)Kainzer Kurt (https://flic.kr/p/JzmkRD) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Looks great as such, but I worry that the cuts might be too shallow to give definition to a polished piece.
Might just leave the head and trunk unpolished after cleaning up. Legs and foot will be done in a couple of days.
Next weekend then the tusks. I'm thinking Qrrums moonstone for the black one, and dont knoiw yet what to use for the Chinese nephrite to stand out. Maybe some leftover black jade, but that thing is hard to polish as it is so danged small. :) :)
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Awesome... The Chinese Nephrite will be my favorite. no doubt.
questions? Do you track how many hours you put into each piece?
What is your main tool for doing the rough carving to this point?
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questions? Do you track how many hours you put into each piece?
What is your main tool for doing the rough carving to this point?
No, I dont. I only know the proximate time on the machine. Sanding takes place while on the road (walking the dogs, going to work, standing in line somewhere,... etc). So it would be pretty impossible to track.
Foredome with 2inch cutting blade followed mostly by inverted triangle shaped and ball shaped burrs of different sizes.
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Beautiful work! Thanks for showing these!
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asianfire thank you for sharing. you really made my day and week. please, continue showing your step-by-step, mary...
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Thanks, I never keep track of time either.
But, you have me intrigued about the sanding now. Are you using sand paper or a charged stick while you walk?
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Lovely pieces. The way the trunk turns back on itself is lovely.
I am also intrigued to how your are sanding and what you are using?
Thanks for sharing
Karen
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I vote for the moonstone!!! Darn stuff won't cooperate with me but on the other side of the world Kurt is kicking thst moonstone butt!!! LOL
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Thanks, I never keep track of time either.
But, you have me intrigued about the sanding now. Are you using sand paper or a charged stick while you walk?
I use regular wet and dry sandpaper as I can't get sticks above a certain grit here easy.
I roll them up to points, and on we go. That's one of the reasons why my edges are never that sharp. I tend to wear them down.
I just recut the folds on both trunks because sanding wore them down too much.
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Spectacular.
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thanks for the info. maybe someday.....
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Great work Kurt you have a good eye for carving something that just suits the stone well done
Dave
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OK, nearly done with the Chinese one.
Needs another run at polish, and baring any accidents with the opal tusks tomorrow it should be ready.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4655/39802780732_24a9a3d6a1_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23DeE1d)nearly there chinese nephrite with opal tusks (https://flic.kr/p/23DeE1d) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Thinking of giving it the opal tusks temporarily for challenge purpose, but then eventually buy some silver wire and fashion tusks for both the nephrite and the Australian one too.
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First one done.... :) :) :)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4666/40096840151_f3c08a6ebc_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/246dMCc)Chinese Nephrite (https://flic.kr/p/246dMCc) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Different angles and backgrounds.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4622/39197599555_b3f0e7f18c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22HKWHZ)Chinese Nephrite (https://flic.kr/p/22HKWHZ) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
With a bit of luck, second one to follow tomorrow.
And naturally, had to have a mishap
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4714/28315732829_1561d98666_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K9awSa)Misshap (https://flic.kr/p/K9awSa) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
of all things, it always seems to happen while sanding by hand.....
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The elephant is amazing, Kurt!
Sorry about the fire agate. Knowing you, you'll turn both pieces into beautiful pieces of art. :icon_sunny:
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Beautiful. Looks like what a great carver would do with a piece of jade.
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Too bad about the Fire Agate. However the Chinese is simply amazing. Always in awe, you are so talented. I always enjoy your posts to see what you have made.
Steve
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Well done on the elephant it looks fantastic. Hope the fire agate has some good salvageable pieces.
Dave
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OK, only took 18 tries to get two fitting tusks. :) :) :)
Best picture for now showing the grey colour from the rind.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4707/39401837534_ab947bf52c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/232NHys)Australian Black jade with moonstone (https://flic.kr/p/232NHys) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Tusk and eyes in Orrums moonstone
Not too happy with pictures yet, so will have to continue to try to do better.
Here a number of different angles and backgrounds
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4664/40081156582_12e837cc1a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/244QprQ)Australian Black jade with moonstone (https://flic.kr/p/244QprQ) by Kainzer Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Thanks for bearing with me for that long, Kurt
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Wow, Kurt. I don't know which one I like better. They both turned out so beautifully. Kudos to you! :icon_sunny:
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Hi Kurt your talents are amazing superb work on the elephants well done.
Dave