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Rock Art => Carvings and Sculptures => Topic started by: Asianfire on June 20, 2018, 02:58:48 AM

Title: WIP Bats nearly finish update July 3
Post by: Asianfire on June 20, 2018, 02:58:48 AM
Took a picture of some bats in our previous abode, and planed to convert it into a carving for years.
But lucking the skills, I never dared to actually try it.

Its now or never, so make or break, here we go....
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/42014219104_b64e40a405_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/271DRA1)and so it beginns (https://flic.kr/p/271DRA1) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Taking my time, one aspect at a time.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/28047358537_35c22598c9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JJs3xc)Jade Project Bats (https://flic.kr/p/JJs3xc) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Then another wing and a head the next day
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/28047357757_b1b2fc1941_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JJs3iK)Jade Project Bats (https://flic.kr/p/JJs3iK) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Rushed a bit today with the garble of wings and the second head...
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1787/28047358697_abaa35fb32_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JJs3zX)Jade Project Bats (https://flic.kr/p/JJs3zX) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr

Thinking of utilizing Orums Moonstone again for the eyes. The colour while standing out, is not to strong a contrast and yet should give a focal point to any viewer when attempting to decipher the object at hand.
With some cuts being as deep ad 7+mm, I 'm not looking forward to the polishing. Looking at endless hours of sanding and toothpick polish.

Thanks for looking, Kurt
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: Sapphireminer on June 20, 2018, 05:16:11 AM
Hi Kurt I have a soft spot for those little guys and there bigger cousins the australian fruit bat have stopped on the highway a few times when seeing them caught up in barbwire fences. I wrap them up in a towel and untangle there wings then let go into a tree can't bear the thought of them dying a slow death on the fences. Thank you for your photos your work is just amazing looking forward to seeing the finished piece.
Dave
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: 55fossil on June 20, 2018, 05:39:45 AM
    Awesome start... cannot wait to see this progress.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: hummingbirdstones on June 20, 2018, 06:59:54 AM
I can see already that it's going to be an amazing piece!  Looking forward to the progress reports.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: Asianfire on June 20, 2018, 07:40:05 AM
Hi Kurt I have a soft spot for those little guys and there bigger cousins the australian fruit bat
Dave

Nice to see there are more people out in the western world that do not reject bats outright.
I have seen Fruit-bats in Micronesia (Not sure, but I think it was in Tonga or Samoa).
Amazing creatures, even close up and nothing of the scary beasts they are made out to be.
This piece is based on a group of four (in the actual picture, a fourth is hiding under the wings at the bottom) ,
and I think they look outright cute. 

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/42871941322_970b0bf7c9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28jrUw7)Untitled - 1 (https://flic.kr/p/28jrUw7) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: hummingbirdstones on June 20, 2018, 08:32:03 AM
Bats are awesome little guys.  Eat the mosquitoes by the thousands.  All the bats we see here are named Buddy.   :icon_sunny:
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: Asianfire on June 20, 2018, 08:43:58 AM
Bats are awesome little guys.  Eat the mosquitoes by the thousands.  All the bats we see here are named Buddy.   :icon_sunny:

:) :) In Chinese culture, bats are a sign of good omen in general, and harbingers of wealth.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: irockhound on June 21, 2018, 10:18:05 PM
I like the progression shots.  Looks to be another amazing piece.  Can't wait to see it progress to final stages.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: ileney on June 22, 2018, 05:59:22 AM
This is another spectacular piece. Your ability to visualize the figures from within the stone is second to none.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: Asianfire on June 22, 2018, 04:40:52 PM
This is another spectacular piece. Your ability to visualize the figures from within the stone is second to none.

:) Thank you. But we both know there are lots of carvers out there who prove that statement wrong. :) :)
Nevertheless, lets keep trying to get there.........
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade
Post by: lithicbeads on June 23, 2018, 07:13:00 AM
A family member was bitten by a bat a few years ago while getting firewood out of a shed.I have been buying her bat themed pottery that a friend makes  as a reminder. We have huge amounts of bats around our place  and best of all new ones migrate in during winter to stay in the cracks of the old growth fir trees. I can always see them by headlamp feeding on midges after dark during Christmas week.Some snowflakes and midges and a few bats viewed by headlamp makes a lasting impression.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade June24 update
Post by: Asianfire on June 24, 2018, 05:51:36 AM
Basic cut done.
Wet and just rough cut on top, basic sanding on 400 paper below.
Picture at bottom to show how deep those cuts are.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/42080193515_e4935f4d3d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/277tZtR)basic sanding cleanup at 400 paper (https://flic.kr/p/277tZtR) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade June24 update
Post by: hummingbirdstones on June 24, 2018, 07:13:34 AM
Wow, Kurt, you're really getting a lot done in a short time.  It looks fabulous.  It's amazing how deep some of those cuts are and you can't really see that in the wet picture.  I like the extra depth I can see in the dry picture.  I wonder what it would look like if you left the background part matt and just polished the batts?
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade June24 update
Post by: Asianfire on June 24, 2018, 08:09:03 AM
I wonder what it would look like if you left the background part matt and just polished the batts?

Actually, I'm thinking of trying the reverse. Polish the wings and leaving the heads just sanded.
Unfortunately, I don't have the means to do proper matt (sandblasted). 
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade June24 update
Post by: hummingbirdstones on June 24, 2018, 05:14:48 PM
I bet that would look very cool, too.   :icon_sunny:
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade June24 update
Post by: ileney on June 24, 2018, 08:51:37 PM
I am curious. It’s hard to tell just how deep the carving is from the picture. How many mm deep is it at the deepest point? It looked like a thin slab when you started but now it looks so 3D, it must have been deeper than it first appeared.
Title: Re: WIP Bats Australian Jade June24 update
Post by: Asianfire on June 24, 2018, 11:34:11 PM
I am curious. It’s hard to tell just how deep the carving is from the picture. How many mm deep is it at the deepest point? It looked like a thin slab when you started but now it looks so 3D, it must have been deeper than it first appeared.

Slab is 10mm thick. This piece now is 9mm at the thickest point (wing point on left) and down to 2.5mm at the thinnest open surface (wing tip leading to the back on the right), and at the deepest the cut goes up to 7mm into the surface.
Title: Re: WIP Bats nearly finish update July 3
Post by: Asianfire on July 03, 2018, 02:06:59 AM
Nearly done.
Moonstone eyes are in, and sanding done for now
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/28294242357_0d14145bd4_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K7gouM)Jade Bat Project (https://flic.kr/p/K7gouM) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr

Toothpick polish round one in progress.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/41353297580_6e4218ce77_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/261fsDj)Jade Bat Project (https://flic.kr/p/261fsDj) by Kainzer  Kurt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/), on Flickr

its wearable as of today, and just needs more rounds of polish to finalize.
Title: Re: WIP Bats nearly finish update July 3
Post by: Sapphireminer on July 03, 2018, 02:22:48 AM
Hi Kurt absolutely amazing.
Dave
Title: Re: WIP Bats nearly finish update July 3
Post by: hummingbirdstones on July 03, 2018, 08:14:33 AM
The bats are outstanding!  I really love this one because you managed to get the expressions on their faces to look very life like.  Every time you undertake a new carving I can see your technique and skills develop a little more.