I have been getting alot of questions about how I do these plaques, so I thought I would post pics on the process of the one I am currently working on. This is all done by hand, both the carving and the burning...
pic for project, it was cropped some in photoshop
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/DanFox.jpg)
transferred it to the wood with graphite paper, took this pic after I had already started making stop cuts for the carving.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/007.jpg)
Started carving out the background, this one will have three levels: background, Dan, and Bighorn Sheep.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/010.jpg)
After getting the background to about 1/4 inch deep, I carved Dan down to 1/8th inch deep, then sanded Dan smooth. The sanding is important to give me a good surface to burn on...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/003-1.jpg)
I am basically done with the carving now. Time to burn, but before I burn Dan (sorry Dan, I promise it won't hurt) I need to retransfer some of the detail with graphite paper.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/005.jpg)
I kinda went crazy with the retransfer on this one. Usually I just transfer some of the key detail, but as you can see there wasn't much I didn't transfer.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/007-1.jpg)
Now I start burning...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/008-2.jpg)
This is where I finished tonight. The hardest part is the face if the person. I try to make it look as much like the photo as possible. I do the face first because it is one of the most important parts. And i will continually adjust it as i do the rest of the burn until I am happy with it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/022-4.jpg)
While I am not doing alot of carving it still takes me atleast 8-10 hours to get it carved, longer if there are more levels. Then I have to sand the levels I will burn on. I use a few different grades of sand paper ending with 400 or 600. I want it smoother than a baby's bottom!
If ya'll want I will keep posting pics as I go.
Please keep posting. I will never make one but I like to learn how it was done.
That is cool.
I'll second Joseph's post!
Very cool to see the process!!! I am looking forward to seeing the finished product. :thumbsup:
What do you use for the burning itself?
Please keep on posting, it's a fascinating art medium!
it is very impressive work!!
keep it coming Chip :thumbsup: :notworthy:
I have said it before and I will say it again, wow.
Incredible work and nice ram Dan!
Rob, I use something called a Colwood burner. It is like having a pen on the end of a cord. Cord runs to base unit where there is a temp control. There are multiple tips I can use, for example for fine lines or shading. It is kinda like drawing with a pencil except you have to vary temp for darkness you want and it takes time to learn how not to leave big black blobs wherever you first touch the wood with the tip. The tip is hotter before it touches the wood, then cools some as you contact the wood.
Chester, I used to live in Richmond, Texas. Pecan Grove to be exact. Where are you?
I will keep posting pics as I progress.
Dan, Hope you don't mind me posting this as I go?
Chip
Small world, how long ago did you here? Where I am at has grown a lot in the 5 years I have been here, and I have heard that in the last 10 the area has just exploded. I live in Brazo's Village (only about 5 years old) between Canyon Gate Subdivision(south of 59 and 99) and the George Ranch.
No problem posting it as it progresses Chip, I am enjoying watching it as a work in progress.
That is really cool. I would love to see more pics of the process through completion! You are quite the artist my friend :thumbsup:
Kevin.
Chester,
we moved to KC in 1999, it was already growing then! They had just started a development across 99 from Pecan Grove Clubhouse. I bet that whole stretch of 99 is full now.
Chip
Dan- I think we found out whats been burning you...
We call it voodoo pyrography, LOL! Sorry, Dan! I will try to get it over with quickly!
as of 11:30pm, 10/06
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/008-3.jpg)
That is a great woodburn.I have always been artist at heart,it's good to be inspired with your work.
This is incredible Chip! Did you chisel out the background? Dremel tool?
Maybe thats why I had such a hard time getting close to those muledeer in Colorado ... the voodoo burning smell! :^)
It is looking good Chip!!!
Dan
Thanks! Still got work to do on Dan's face and head, not quite right yet. I've been told I sometimes make people look better than they really look. One guy said he was going to use my woodburn of him for his picture on an internet dating service!
Of course, have a long ways to go on Dan's body and the Bighorn Ram.
Snag,
I use hand carving tools. I do have a foredom for wood carving, which is kinda like a dremel on steroids, but don't really need it for this. Besides, I want those nice wood carving tool gouges for the background.
Chip
Coming along nicely Hooked. Im hoping on a lot of action down here with Pete next week. With a little bit o luck I will be sending you a photo.
Hey, I checked out your Wild fire artistry website that is looking good too.
Thanks, Les! I had a friend who is a computer hacker (just a joke) help me with it. He can shoot a bow and wood burn pretty well, atleast for a computer hacker. He does need to work on his tracking skills though! He lost a pig to the vultures last week. His first trad kill!
spent alot of time on Dan's face tonight. Until I got tired of looking at it, LOL. Then spent some time on the ram.
I do think Dan is looking better, but I am not done with him yet. Tough being both an artist and a perfectionist!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/003-3.jpg)
Have you tried the mirror trick somebody else mentioned. That is one heck of a ram doesn't look like a deer at all.
Les,
Don't see how looking at my ugly mug in the mirror would help with burning Dan's face! :-)
Yep, his face (almost doesn't sound right saying this..lol) is looking better. The highlights and shadowing are making it "pop".
That is just fascinating! You have the patience of a saint and the hands of a surgeon. Outstanding work!
Very cool!
Simply incredible. The detail is stunning.
Thanks fella! Still have alot of work to do! The face isn't done yet...well, nothing is done yet!
Didn't get much done tonight, but there is a difference
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/007-2.jpg)
Superb!
Hey Chip when you are done with the plaque my wife wants to know if you can make any improvements on me ... what do you think, would Brad Pitt be too much of a stretch? :^)
Dan
Seriously buddy it is looking awesome despite the lack of a male model in the original picture!
How's this, Dan? Should I do your face over?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/DanFoxasBradPitt.jpg)
Ok thats hilarious Chip! :biglaugh: I suppose you should leave the picture with my ugly mug on it or the next thing you know I will have Angelina Jolie or some super model chasing after me! :^)
Starting to come to life...
I have to say I am finally happy with Dan's face...well, uh, I mean my carving/burn of Dan's face.
This is the fun part because every little detail I adjust now will just make it come to life even more!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/043.jpg)
Dang, I would have had to stop at the tracing! You do beautiful work! You should be proud of your talent for detail!
GLENN
Man, this is too cool. Great work.
photo came out a little different color for some reason, but here is current progress...not a big change but I primarily was just working on the highlights on the ram.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/006.jpg)
Hey Chip, great work as always. That picture of Pitt's head was histerical!! Good stuff.
Ya'll may not notice a big difference between this pic and the last two, but I do!!!
I am really close to done except for little changes that nobody would probably ever notice but me!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/034.jpg)
Outstanding work mate! Wow
That last picture seems to have "come to life"! The ram looks like it could jump right out of the picture. Most excellent and artistic work!
Shaun,
It is always funny to me how I can spend hours and hours shading and stuff, but it is tiny little changes I make at this stage that brings them to life!
Whenever I say I am done, that just means I am going to sit it somewhere and keep looking at it for a few days to see if any other little changes jump out at me!
I think I got a lab and a pile of pheasant on my next one!
Chip
That is totally beautisuckle, bud! Only thing I could draw on is a checking account! :(
I am amazed and awed at people's artistic talent.
You are truly blessed amidst the challenges of the past years.
Funny how the Good Lord works, David! If it wasn't for Garrett I might not have ever picked up a woodburning pen.
As you may know, folks on another message board did an auction to help us out when Garrett was six days old and undergoing his first open heart surgery. During that auction a very generous bloke donated a bow to be a traveling bow. It would travel until they gave it to Garrett when he was old enough. They named it the Lil Garret Bow.
I had dabbled in woodcarving over the years, so I decided to create a bowrack for the LGB. I carved a big deer. Someone asked if I was going to woodburn in the details. Heck, no! I might mess it up. At that point, woodburning had never even crossed my mind, but it planted a seed.
The bow rack I did for Pinecone was from an auction for another little baby that was born premature. I decided to purchase a woodburner and see if I could use it to add some detail/coloring to the carving.
My next project was the plaque I did for Yleecoyote. And things have taken off from there!
Sorry for the long story!
Chip
I hear ya about being "done". Robert Frost said, "A poem is never done, only abandoned."
Hey Chip,
Could you post a pic of your work next to the original photo? Sure looks GREAT!
Dave, I don't think they will show up side by side, but I will post them together and see.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/DanFox.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/pm007.jpg)
and here is the final pic...I think. Just realized I need to give Dan a few grey whiskers.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/wfjones2/Wildfire%20Artistry/pm020.jpg)
NICE!!!
Wow! What talent. Thank you for sharing.
Craig
awesome!!!
Alright...how do you do the lettering so perfect? Are you using templates? What a great way to remember a hunt. Love it!
You did an awesome job Chip!!! I have the perfect place to hang it in my office when it gets here. Thanks for all your hard work!!!
Dan
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofSheep004.jpg)
snag,
I transfer the letters using graphite paper, then burn them.
Dan,
I will keep looking at it a couple days as I start my next piece, then I will put a finish on it. I was thinking a real light pink stain would look good for your man cave!
Chip