Fallen Angel

[kk]

A long journey it’s been.

I thought of a project like this before I even started cabbing, because of my dear wife.I love her to death, she has a heart of gold, yet sometimes I wish her to hell. Married live, what’s there more to say? LOLOL

So early last year, I saw this image on Google’s and saved it. Now after the squid project, I felt confident enough to actually realize the image in stone. 6 week late though; as I said I would attempt it before the year is out last August.

Before coming to the actual project its time to give some long overdue thanks:

To Sara for her unfailing optimism in my abilities yet to be realized.
To Mike for his continuing support in nearly all technical aspects that I still need to be constantly reminded of.
To Helen who yet again, has given brilliant advice concerning overall balance and proportions
Plus, to Ajo, David and Pete for timely posting of their own fantastic work, that caused me to go back once more to 400 grid yesterday and start all over once more.
Each and every one of you had a decisive impact on the final outcome, hence; Thank you sooooo much. yes16


So now lets get on with it:

Cheated a little, by transferring the basic image via carbon-paper onto the stone. As you all know, I work by intuition not by planing, so its guranteed to look different in the end, but doing this original transver gives a big help in getting started.

Surprised myself by how easy it was to create the body. Then came the idea about “being on the rocks” to re-enforce the image of “fallen”. So I decided to frame the bottom with rocks. Was made a lot easier by the fact that I just recently found cup-shaped burrs.

But then the trouble really started. I thought of having a “helping hand” to the left and a demonic creature hovering to the right above. The hand was a bust and looked like one only from one specific angle. The demonic creature turned into something like a goat. Overall, it does not look so bad in the picture, but I quite hated the overall appearance of the piece at hand.

So, wasted over two days, trying to create hand and creature only to cut them out again. Simpler, but much more pleasant to the eye (and easier to wear, as its much lighter LOL). At least now, I think, someone would be actually willing to wear it.

Yipeeeeeeee, got a bonus! ura12

During the first part of sanding, I realized that I got inadvertently two hidden creatures without even trying. The snake can only be seen backlit and the other reminds me of a stylized "Tribal tatoo" version of a horned dragon.


So after looking at the pictures yesterday and seeing the fantastic finishes in Ajo and Pete's posts it became clear that I will have to step it up. Luckyly, I posted the journey thus far and Helen saw it. So after a quick re-cut and re-sanding all the way from 400 grid, here is the final result.


Not yet a "Graduation Piece", but I think I'm getting close


A quick fix, to give it a shot being worn by my usual victim lol15



That brings us to 4 reasonable (for me anyway) pieces in 40 days. Unfortunately, I will have to concentrate on work the next few weeks, so I will hustle you less for your time for a while.

Thanks again for all your help and the opportunity to show-case here......

[FrogAndBearCreations]

Looking good so far!

can't wait to see it all polished up

[paulshiroma]

This is an impressive piece, Kurt! Thanks for the photos.
Paul

[Deleted]

The person that told you to stop worrying and get on with it was right and wrong. Correct was the "stop worrying about it" and incorrect was "get on with it". It is quite obvious that you are the type of person that needs to put a project on a shelf and start another when you get to worrying about it too much. The word artist does not imply that you have to finish a project today, tomorrow, next week or next year. Often times if an artist puts down a project then picks it up later with a clear view it will turn out better than even he had expected.

Being self critical is the only way that we get better but worrying about it seems to me to be, for a lack of a better word, defeatist. "If I do not get this exactly right" what? The world will come crashing down, everyone will laugh at me or no one will like me? You have proved your metal and you always seem to come through brilliantly. The fish was a good example. you almost worried it's head off but in the end it was awesome. Do you think that the worry helped or was it setting the piece aside then picking it up later with a fresh look.

AND!!!!!! If a project does not turn out it is not a "failure" it is a "LEARNING EXPERIENCE". The time was not lost. Is a student loosing time??? Do they ace every test?

QUIT WORRYING and keep showing us your awesome work. Seeing your transformation from rock to art is one of the main reasons for me coming back to this site. I wish that I had half your talent.

Sorry if I am over critical. It is just the opinion of an old dude that likes you a lot.
Jim

[ChineseNinjaHero]

You're welcome Kurt:). I posted some suggestions, and then deleted it from the forum, sending it directly to him via pm instead... thus the missing post above there. I just didn't want to come across as critical of a lovely piece, and Kurt's obvious carving talent, with the suggestions.

I've been chatting with Kurt for a bit now, so I knew he wouldn't take it that way, but I was worried how it would come across on the public forum:P. Anyway, it's GORGEOUS as it is, and displays a level of carving skill most of us only hope to attain someday.

[adrian65]

Looking good! Very complex carving, but you made it so beautiful.

Adrian

[NatureNut]

Well said, Helen. I missed your suggestions, and now would have liked to have read them, but how everything turned out is very, very cool (I try not to jump to conclusions). What a wonderful result! So beautiful with the flowers Kurt. I really enjoyed this. Jo

[FrogAndBearCreations]

Turned out beautifully!

[Deleted]

Awesome KK as usual. Did you read past the first sentence of what I wrote before?
Jim

[sampson]

Another very nice piece Kurt. I have held off commenting on this one since something just doesn't quite look right to me and it took me a while to figure it out. Please take this as constructive criticism as i think this is a very nice piece overall and is better than i could do but i thought i would make these comments to help you get a different view of your piece.

First, the good. I think the overall body shape is exceptional and has very graceful lines. Also, the round rocks that she is kneeling on give a great interest and "base" to the piece.

Suggestions. There is somehting about the flowing piece behind her that draws my eye away from the body. In the first pics i thought she had a tail or something and in the finished piece it almost looks like she has flames around her. Also, the second wing or back wing seems mismatched to me since it doesn't have the same level of detail as the front wing. When i look at this piece and place my hand over the back wing and stuff around her but it just seems to look more balanced and clean to me. Try looking at your pic and covering the back wing and extra stuff behind her and see how it looks like that?

Again, i want to say that this is just constructive criticism in how i see this piece and overall i think it is very nice and probably much better than i could do. Keep sharing your great work, i am impressed at how many different pieces you have got done in the last few months.

[SteveHolmes]

Very Impressive. I enjoy seeing your progression pics. This is one part of Lapidary I will just enjoy on the sidelines. I would never be able to carve and create like that. Keep em' coming!
steve

[mohs]

The weeping angel came seriously fine, Kurt!
Ed

[tntmom]

Yes Steve! I agree, Kurt you amaze me! I have never attempted to do what you do. My respect for your patience, talent and artistic ability is beyond words. I can't fathom the discipline that it takes to do what you do. Thank you sooooo much for sharing your progressions with us, you are an inspiration to me and have started me thinking about areas in lapidary that I had never considered before....WTG!!!

[ChineseNinjaHero]

You know, I think Sampson has a point... I was focused on the object, not the surroundings... but she does look a little bit like she's got a tail, Kurt... or just pooped a rock (the one right behind her butt is white). Maybe if you flattened that rock below her butt-line so it's background rather than level... ?

And thanks Naturenut:). Kurt said the same thing... that it's more constructive to post suggestions on the forum so everyone can see. Sometimes people reading take that as an insult to the artist... which I would never do. Also, artwork by committee is strange. It's just nice to have different eyes sometimes when you've developed tunnel vision from working a single piece for a long time. But I'll post it next time:).

[Rockhobbit]

WOW, that is beautiful! Your talent amazes me!

[sampson]

I am glad you understand what i was saying and took my comments as i intended them. Like Helen mentioned, some people take suggestions as an insult which is definitely not how they are meant, but instead are put forth to help us all grow and learn from each others work and how we each see it differently.

I think the flames may have worked better if there were also some around her front end but i am not sure how you could form them to make them stand out enough to not detract from the great form of her bodylines. No matter if you make changes or not it is a beautiful piece no matter how you look at it.

[ChineseNinjaHero]

I think it looks great! You are so talented Kurt:)

[sampson]

Nice fine tuning Kurt. I really like the change to the back wing and the extra seperation of the flames from her butt really help complete the piece. You definitely stepped it up with the extra work.

[Donnie's Rocky Treasures]

Great work, Kurt! Looks like you got'er done just fine!