Post #325926 by Paipo on Wed, Aug 15, 2007 7:54 PM

There's some good questions about making art here, so I'll do my best...

On 2007-08-15 06:29, timidtiki wrote:
Another thought . . . I've been told by several of my artist friends that the most difficult point is creating a new work of art is knowing when it is done. How goes that for you?

It goes badly for me mostly...I usually have no idea until right near the end! When I can't see any more toolmarks that's usually a good sign!
The creative process goes a little like this:
vague idea/visualising -> find stone to project that onto -> mark out basic features and hack away -> stop and think about expression/emotion in the piece, refine features to reflect this -> Embellishments? - surface carving, tattoo, inlays or "extras" - and how to attach them? -> final detail + sanding, holes for the cord/s, sign and date -> cordage + photos - trying to get a picture that conveys how the piece looks to me

I think I'm subconsciously rebelling against the system we were taught at school, which is to do pages of developmental drawing or a single carving, a written and illustrated tool projection, and then this followed with with a written critique! :lol: Why *#@! around when you can just carve? I am always surprised with what comes out of the intuitive process and that is one of the biggest rewards for me.

On 2007-08-15 18:58, AlohaStation wrote:
That shrunken head really turned out fantastic!! However for my taste - I really enjoy the more simplified designs. I know how hard it is to put something down and say "done". in fact I don't ever really feel that any carving is ever finished - there's always something. Keep em comin!!

Well, once they are done, they are definitely done for me..there is the odd piece that I keep going back to, more likely with jade...but Picasso also believed a work of art was never finished, so you're in great company! This guy is very busy - he just kept asking for more...pierced, tattooed, stitched, bone in the hair. The idea was to make it fairly over-the-top as befitting it's status as a lowbrow icon, but also throw some tiki influence in the mix too. Simple is back on the cards with the Marq I posted - he is actually mostly done as pictured and is my take on some of my tourist tikis. Which also answers this question:

On 2007-08-15 07:06, Benzart wrote:
Your next one, #37 with the "Spider Head" looks very promising. It looks like a simple enough rough-out but Where will it end ??? :lol:

On 2007-08-15 15:14, harro wrote:
so how are those tusks held in place?

The tusk is one piece and a loop of the cord that makes up the hair runs down the back of the piece and through a hole inside the nose (you can see this in the side-on shot I posted earlier). Once everything is all braided and lashed tight, the only way to release it again is to cut the cord, but you can still swivel the nose bone up and down. Too much problem solving on this guy, hence the return to simpler styles with #37!

PS Cheers JohnnyP!