Midnight prayer Finished up

[jbird]

Hi every one this is my first project like this so tell me what's wrong.

how do you think it should be finished.

Thanks Josh

Edited June 24, 2008 by jbird

[bruce johnson]

Joshua,

Looks like you got that undercut beveler. It gives a nice effect for these and you used it well. Makes the figures stand out from the background. Your beveling is getting smoother every piece. Still a chop mark here and there, but improvement on each thing you have done. Next tool probably to get is a matting tool to fade or bridge the beveling into the background smoother. I would also use a modeling spoon to round over that ridge on the edge of the moon. In fact, if I was doing this piece, I might not undercut the moon. Undercut the figure in the front, and then a routine bevel or even soft matting around the moon. That will give the look of dimension maybe a little more. I normally use the tip of modeling tool to make the woodgrain look rather than a blade. It makes them rounded and look a little softer. Also I wouldn't make the woodgrain quite so "wavy".

How to finish it? Good question. Size tells me how I might consider it. Normally I dye the figures for silhouettes black. On a big pattern, this is a lot of black. Might be overpowering?? On a smaller size version on a Bible cover, I'd blacken it. On a bigger size, maybe fade some brown dye in the beveling borders around the figures to kind of shadow it and make it stand out some.

Now the big question for me. I think you did a great job. As I recall this is the first silhouette piece you have posted. I really like this pattern and I can see a few different applications for it - Bible covers, checkbook, photoalbum, and wall clock. Where'd you get the pattern and would you share it?

[jbird]

Hi Bruce,

thanks for the input I knew there was some stuff that was not right so I need the help thanks, and yes I got the under cut beveler still trying to get my head wrapped around it. as for the pattern it was originally a photo so I just threw it in to photoshop and made a pattern. I am posting the original and some of my versions hope that works. So you are saying to just kind of highlight the beveled parts of the horse and cowboy, what about if I stained the frame and the bushes, cowboy and horse and then oiled the moon and sky.

Josh,

Edited June 25, 2008 by jbird

[bruce johnson]

Joshua,

Thanks for the pattern, I'll be using it. Thinking about this a little more. I like simple. There are some people here that use a lot of color that could really set this piece off. I like the silhouette effect. I would dye the frame brown. I would do the bushes, man, and horse black. I would do a brown border around the moon. Then I would oil the whole piece, lightly. You can always add more oil if you want later. If I thought the moon looked funny, I would then dye it black. You could probably add these colors to the patterns you have on the computer and see how they look.

[jbird]

Joshua,

Thinking about this a little more. I like simple. There are some people here that use a lot of color that could really set this piece off. I like the silhouette effect. I would dye the frame brown. I would do the bushes, man, and horse black. I would do a brown border around the moon. Then I would oil the whole piece, lightly. You can always add more oil if you want later. If I thought the moon looked funny, I would then dye it black. You could probably add these colors to the patterns you have on the computer and see how they look.

Good Good I like that Idea, do you do a lot of bible covers, I have never done one could you post some pics of the inside for me.

Josh,

Edited June 25, 2008 by jbird

[jbird]

Howdy the finish is done I went with A more simply look what do you think.

Edited June 25, 2008 by jbird

[bruce johnson]

Joshua,

I am biased here, but I think it looks great. The brown sets off the "frame", the black figure is silhouetted, and the moon is just right with the highlighted edge. I would not dye the moon black. It looks just right to my eye like this, and a black moon would overdo it. Got a maker's stamp too huh? Cool.

[jbird]

Joshua,

I am biased here, but I think it looks great. The brown sets off the "frame", the black figure is silhouetted, and the moon is just right with the highlighted edge. I would not dye the moon black. It looks just right to my eye like this, and a black moon would overdo it. Got a maker's stamp too huh? Cool.

thanks for the help bruce and yup got to day.