Carving A Thistle

[Chavez]

Hi!

I've tried coming up with a thistle carving pattern but I just can't get it right! I have no trouble with leaves - effectively, a modified american oak - but I just can't get a decent-looking flower/acorn/pod/whatever that thing is =) The leaves end up looking good but the acorn bit looks like it's been carved by a 2 year old =(((

Has anyone ever carved a thistle and would you be so kind to let me have a look at the tooling used for the acorn? I'm not going to use colour so its hard to think of what tools to use to fill the space.

Thank you!

[dirtclod]

I did one 15 / 16 years ago no pictures though. For the life of me i can't remember what i did for the flower part. It turned out OK the lady liked it but it wasn't something i was real proud of. I did find these line drawings that might give you some ideals. https://www.google.com/search?q=thistle+line+drawing&hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=7lc&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=j0fbUJacH5DQ9ATK0IDoBw&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=880&bih=405

[Havamal]

I'm not sure if you are having trouble with the shape or the detailing, but saw one that was done on a Targe at a highland games a couple of years ago. For the bottom of the flower it looked like detail cuts in a cross hatch pattern was used and then the flower itself just looked like they used a scratch awl or stylus and put in fine lines going out in the bloom then split the ends of the scratches into 3 or 4 points to give it that fuzzy effect. Could you post a pic of what your trying? It might help people make suggestions if we can see the piece

Edited December 26, 2012 by Havamal

[WinterBear]

The "cup" of a thistle flower is actually covered with small spikey scales or elongated bracts. Artichokes are members of the thistle family if that helps you visualize this. I've seen a small pointed mulesfoot used to make this effect rather than crosshatching with swivelknife cuts, but I unfortunately do not have a picture of this.

Anyway, try looking at the thistles at these links and see if they give you any additional ideas.

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/web_exhibits/museum_studies/fontaine/fontaine_nic_labels.htm

http://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/5685515/il_fullxfull.327597439.jpg

[Chavez]

Thanks guys!

It's the detailing that doesn't look good. Lack of experience I guess..

Mulefoot sounds interesting - I was going to try it on my next draft.

I'll take a few photos of my first drafts and post them here. I did a cross-hatch pattern (like an oak acorn) but it doesn't look good.

I'll try the scales pattern & bevelling too... The "toto lib" link has a nice pattern.

[Jaymack]

I've seen a craftaid for a wallet that has pine cones and pine needles. This craftaid may help give and idea on how to carve a thistle flower which may be similar to the pine needles. I don't have this craftaid, but here's the link.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/leather-craft-patterns/craftaids-ind/74010-00.aspx

[LNLeather]

Scottish thistle pics - thought these might help

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Well, I'm not sure if this is what you want, but; a while back I did a saddle for a lady that wanted a thistle border. I played with it for a bit and she jumped on the first thing I showed her and said it was exactly what she wanted. So this is what I did for her. Not fancy, but; again it is what she wanted. Sometimes simple is better.

Bob

[Chavez]

Haha! I think I figured out what's wrong with my drafts - I was trying to carve an oval pod while it's much better when it is carved like Bob did on his saddle!

Thank you very much for the photo - I'll try to draft some more thistles!

[Chavez]

here are a couple of my latest drafts. pod sorted out but the petals are still bad =((

Any ideas on what tools to use?