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Brit
297 posts
and
37 followers
in about 10 years
in about 10 years
More from Brit
Three Hares Relief Carving
Wood: Lime
Relief: 6mm
Size: Approx. 11" x 11" x 3/4"
Size: Approx. 11" x 11" x 3/4"
Method: 100% hand tools
I was due to visit my friend Mads in Denmark for a week but we had to postpone it due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I had told him that I would make him something to present to him when I visited and decided to go ahead with the project anyway and send it on to him.
The Three Hares is an ancient symbol that has been found in old architecture (mainly religious) in England, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, China and nobody really knows where it originated and how it came to appear in such diverse locations. You can Google it if you want to look into the design further. It is basically an optical illusion whereby there are three hares and there are three ears, yet each hare appears to have two ears.
I'm a member of Chris Pyes's http://www.woodcarvingworkshops.tv/ and he introduced the design as one of the lessons in relief carving. I changed a couple of aspects of Chris's design and added the border which he showed how to do in another project where he added it around a circular mirror.
This is my first proper relief carving using European carving tools and techniques and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also pleasantly surprised that it turned out alright. I had bought three chunks of lime because I fully expected to be trashing the first two attempts. LOL.
The background decoration was done with a couple of punches I made from one of those square bars that goes between the two handles on a door and a large nail. Chris also shows how to make various punches on his site.
In the second photo above showing the rear of the carving, the more astute amongst you will see that I wrote Corvid instead of Covid. I did peel the label off and re-print it before sending it off to Mads. I also put some brass screws in the escutcheon plate on the back once some shorter screws arrived in the post.
Apart from the saws and hand plane I used to make the board in the first place, these were the tools I used for the carving.
So basically, I started with this…
and ended up with this…
Thanks for looking.
Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.
13 Comments
Very interesting history and wonderful carving. Fitting as 2023 will be the year of the Rabbit. Connected, probably not. Nice work and thanks for posting and the history of the design.
Ron
Beautiful
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Excellent subject for a relief carving and a wonderful gift!
Andy,
Your carving is really outstanding. What a nice gift.
L/W
Your carving is really outstanding. What a nice gift.
L/W
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Benjamin Franklin
Love this soo much Andy! STILL working on mine 🙄 Pretty sure I’ll be taking at least two shots. Especially after seeing yours again to remind me of how amateur mine is!
Great to see this carving again and great to see you posting here😁
Great to see this carving again and great to see you posting here😁
It's satisfying to see this wonderful carving again. Thanks Andy!
"Duck and Bob would be out doin some farming with funny hats on." chrisstef
Nicely done. I have also rekindle my interest in carving and will post something soon.
Stay safe, stay healthy, Don -- Holland, Michigan.
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the encouragement.
@Don - Looking forward to seeing it.
@Don - Looking forward to seeing it.
Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.
very cool relief work brit.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Thanks pottz. I was pleasantly surprised how it turned out for my first relief carving, which I'm sure is mostly down to Chris Pye's excellent teaching videos . Sure there are things I could have done better, but I knew Mads would appreciate it, even with it's little imperfections.
Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.
Ordered some carving tools - not sure I'll ever get to this level. Great gift!
👍,🦆...
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I know Mads appreciated it too, Andy! Well done!
May you have the day you deserve!
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