Help carve a butterfly

[DieselTech]

2 minutes ago, RockRash said:

That looks great! Alot smoother and cleaner. Again not a expert but I think practicing a few times before the actual project makes a world of difference. I'd be very happy with what you have done there. 

PS: my wife was looking at my screen as I was typing and said you did a great job. 

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I appreciate it. 

Yeah I've come to the conclusion the more practice the better the outcome. 

I got another idea I'm going to try on the butterfly next. 

Lol stay tuned & will see if its success or failure. If it's a failure I consider it a lesson learned. 

[Sheilajeanne]

Hi, insect expert here - used to teach kids about moths and butterflies, and also raised monarch butterflies at home!  If you compare your carving with the pattern, you will see you should have left a little space between the abdomen and the hind wings. Also, I'd make the line between the front wings and the hind wings more obvious. 

The segments of the abdomen should be slightly curved, to make it look rounder. And the body of the butterfly should have 3 well defined sections: head, thorax and abdomen. The pattern you're using is very good, it's very realistic. If you follow it more closely, your butterfly will look much more realistic!

Still very good for your first efforts at carving...

Maybe this picture of a monarch butterfly will help, as it shows some of the things I mentioned. One thing to note is the pattern of the veins in the butterfly's wings are never random. They always follow almost exactly the same pattern, and the pattern is different for each species. They are actual veins, and fluid flows along them when the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, to expand the wings to their full size. 

 

[DieselTech]

10 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

Hi, insect expert here - used to teach kids about moths and butterflies, and also raised monarch butterflies at home!  If you compare your carving with the pattern, you will see you should have left a little space between the abdomen and the hind wings. Also, I'd make the line between the front wings and the hind wings more obvious. 

The segments of the abdomen should be slightly curved, to make it look rounder. And the body of the butterfly should have 3 well defined sections: head, thorax and abdomen. The pattern you're using is very good, it's very realistic. If you follow it more closely, your butterfly will look much more realistic!

Still very good for your first efforts at carving...

Maybe this picture of a monarch butterfly will help, as it shows some of the things I mentioned. One thing to note is the pattern of the veins in the butterfly's wings are never random. They always follow almost exactly the same pattern, and the pattern is different for each species. They are actual veins, and fluid flows along them when the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, to expand the wings to their full size. 

 

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. I'm horrible at drawing too.

I think I just need more practice with the swivel knife. 

[chuck123wapati]

if i were to attempt a butterfly i would use a knife around the body and outline of the wings. Bevel between the wings and body and around the wings , maybe lifting the edges a bit. On the wings and body, I would use a stylus only to outline the colored areas and abdomen. then light coats of acrylics  to build up the colors.

[DieselTech]

16 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

if i were to attempt a butterfly i would use a knife around the body and outline of the wings. Bevel between the wings and body and around the wings , maybe lifting the edges a bit. On the wings and body, I would use a stylus only to outline the colored areas and abdomen. then light coats of acrylics  to build up the colors.

Thanks. So are you saying you would use a stylus for the veined/lined wing sections? 

Thanks I appreciate your input. 

[chuck123wapati]

13 minutes ago, DieselTech said:

Thanks. So are you saying you would use a stylus for the veined/lined wing sections? 

Thanks I appreciate your input. 

yes i think you would have much more control and they would look more light and fragile looking  if that makes sense

[DieselTech]

27 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

yes i think you would have much more control and they would look more light and fragile looking  if that makes sense

Yep sure does. I'll try & get around to tooling some more later today. We will see if they turn out. 

Thanks I really appreciate everything.

[chuck123wapati]

18 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Yep sure does. I'll try & get around to tooling some more later today. We will see if they turn out. 

Thanks I really appreciate everything.

a lifter and modeling tool would be a big help, do you have those?

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

a lifter and modeling tool would be a big help, do you have those?

Yes I do. I got a set of petal lifters, including 1 hand lifter, & a set of modeling tools. 

Lol I've been buying lots of tools. 

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, DieselTech said:

Yes I do. I got a set of petal lifters, including 1 hand lifter, & a set of modeling tools. 

Lol I've been buying lots of tools. 

Good to have all the tools now its a matter then of practice and turning what you see in your mind as a butterfly into something someone else sees as a butterfly. Sorry I don't have butterflies to show that point only roses, both pieces are the same rose only different techniques and a different way of seeing the same thing. As you can also see I'm not great at tooling either. Tooling is about shading or what the light reflects to the eye. I use modeling tools as much as i do bevellers, they are much more subtle and easier to control and get good results when forming the slight variances that make the shadows and also the lifters are a must have imo to complete those shadows. You may want the object to appear to be setting on top of the leather, the fore wings over the back wings etc. and connected to a roundish body You can round your body with a  modeling tool for example much easier than with a beveller. You want your shadows to be fluid and show motion or form as it would naturally. I also take and study photos to get a better idea of what I want.