What do you see?

[Steve Krumanaker]

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, 2017 by Steve Krumanaker
speeling

[Gene Howe]

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

[lew]

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? 

[Gerald]

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.

[HandyDan]

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.

[Stick486]

I see an oven...

top of a smelter...

 

[Steve Krumanaker]

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

[Steve Krumanaker]

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

[Steve Krumanaker]

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

[Steve Krumanaker]

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

[Steve Krumanaker]

5 hours ago, Stick486 said:

I see an oven...

top of a smelter...

 

 

Thanks Stick. I think that's good?

 

Steve

[Stick486]

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

[Gene Howe]

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

[HandyDan]

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.

[Steve Krumanaker]

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

[Steve Krumanaker]

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

[Stick486]

kiln...

[Smallpatch]

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, 2017 by Smallpatch

[Gene Howe]

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

[Chips N Dust]

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.