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'Lining in', outlining, allows you to reduce the background briskly without damaging the subject and prepares the carving for a subsequent 'setting in' stage.
Related videos: Put 'lining in' in the search box, top left, and you'll find lots more examples and explanations of this common carving practice.
| 05 October 2021 03:02
Michael - Thank you for your kind comments! Sorry but I don't know of any gouge-swapping sites. Best to buy the tools you need one at a time, as you need them. I try to use as few tools as possible on the site, at least for the simpler projects.
| 04 October 2021 00:06
Michael - Lining up the grain (wood fibres) for maximum strength is one of the things we carvers have to be sure to do, so it's good to see you thinking like that.
If you look at the picture above, what is the weakest part of the tail? Well, it's going to be those 2 small pincer-like things down the end. Yes?
If you look at those 2 parallel lines I've drawn, that's the direction of the wood fibres, and you can see the wood fibres do indeed line up with the pincery things. So all good strength-wise.
If you reversed the drawing (mirror right to left) the orientation of the grain would essentially be the same. So still good.
And even better, you could now do a left and right-handed dragonfly! - without losing strength. You could apply the carving to either side of a fireplace, cupboard bedhead etc.
Do, please, have a go at this carving. Forget the clock! It's a good one to practice low relief on and, at the end of the day, it's only a piece of wood...
