This is supposed to look like a rock wall or rocks in a bed of mortar. My wife says she likes it but doesn't think of rocks when she sees it. What do you see? what can I do to make it look more like a rock wall? Appreciate any and all thoughts, comments, or ideas.

 

 

 

 

Oh yea, it's a work in progress. Actually, a try piece before  I do this on a larger form.

Honest opinions please.

 

Steve

Edited September 18, 20178 yr by Steve Krumanaker
speeling

Looks like a rock wall, to me. Lotta time spent, huh? Did you draw it first? 

My 7th grade art teacher, who was raised on a farm, said all I could draw were flies.

 

I do see the rocks. Do you think shading the rock areas nearest the "mortar" would make them look more 3 dimensional? 

I see rocks with the front 3 in the second picture looking best. I do not care for the Xs on the bottom rings. Interesting concept.

It does look like rocks and mortar to me.  I like the idea.  The bottom rings don't seem to fit the theme but then they won't be seen anyway when the bowl is being displayed.

I see an oven...

top of a smelter...

 

9 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Looks like a rock wall, to me. Lotta time spent, huh? Did you draw it first? 

 

Thanks for reply, I did draw it first but that's much easier to do than a person would think. Basically just a bunch of straight lines drawn in pencil. Shade in where two lines intersect or meet and it creates the "mortar".

 

Steve

7 hours ago, lew said:

My 7th grade art teacher, who was raised on a farm, said all I could draw were flies.

 

I do see the rocks. Do you think shading the rock areas nearest the "mortar" would make them look more 3 dimensional? 

 

Hi Lew. Thanks for the reply. I did do that some but it's already pretty dark. I made the mistake of making the "mortar" completely black. I like the look but that limits me a little in shading other areas. Not a big deal on this piece as the bowl itself was never a keeper, just working out the kinks on this idea.

 

Steve

7 hours ago, Gerald said:

I see rocks with the front 3 in the second picture looking best. I do not care for the Xs on the bottom rings. Interesting concept.

 

Hi Gerald thanks. I agree with you on both points. Mostly I just wanted a different "texture" for the bricks. I've never been a big fan of cross hatching and probably won't use that again.

 

Steve

7 hours ago, HandyDan said:

It does look like rocks and mortar to me.  I like the idea.  The bottom rings don't seem to fit the theme but then they won't be seen anyway when the bowl is being displayed.

 

Thanks Dan, I appreciate your thoughts. Yea, not sure exactly how to terminate the pattern. I think maybe two rows of "bricks" was a mistake and it may look more like a cap with only one row. I have to disagree with you though about the bottom. It seems the first thing people do with a bowl is pick it up and look at the bottom.

 

Steve

5 hours ago, Stick486 said:

I see an oven...

top of a smelter...

 

 

Thanks Stick. I think that's good?

 

Steve

24 minutes ago, Steve Krumanaker said:

 

Thanks Stick. I think that's good?

 

Steve

 

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=adobe+ovens+pictures&t=ffsb&atb=v66-2&ia=images&iax=1

Don't know the wall thickness but, maybe some Dremel work for depth before burning? 

1 hour ago, Steve Krumanaker said:

 

Thanks Dan, I appreciate your thoughts. Yea, not sure exactly how to terminate the pattern. I think maybe two rows of "bricks" was a mistake and it may look more like a cap with only one row. I have to disagree with you though about the bottom. It seems the first thing people do with a bowl is pick it up and look at the bottom.

 

Steve

 

Put a "Do Not Touch" sigh on that one.

44 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Don't know the wall thickness but, maybe some Dremel work for depth before burning? 

 

Gene, that's a great idea and a perfect example of why a good forum is such great asset. I won't do that on this bowl but I can see that happening on a piece for sure.

 

Steve

4 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

 

Put a "Do Not Touch" sigh on that one.

 

Don't think it's going to matter, wife and daughter both think it looks like a giraffe!

 

 

Steve

kiln...

Cut the dark areas about an 1/8 of an inch deeper than the rocks. A flexshaft on a Dremel with a good carbide bit from Wood Carvers Supply I think works the best. The handpiece is small enough to handle easily.     www.woodcarverssupply.com   Only one bit is needed a kutzall #265051.  or maybe a  kutzall #265082  depending on how wide the grove needs to be. These Kutzall bits will last a long time. These bits will leave the surface ruff kinda like concrete looks. If you want the surface smooth which in you case no then a diamond covered bit after you use the course bit would do that.

 

It looks great but needs the extra depth to see and feel.

Edited September 18, 20178 yr by Smallpatch

Hey Patch, thanks for those stock #s. I didn't know Kutzall made grinders that small.

I see the rocks too. The only thing I would add is to see if you could not make it a little more 3D, if that is possible.