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Post by kk on May 12, 2017 18:01:36 GMT -5
Let me start by saying thanks to Bobby1 who sold me this challenging slab eons ago. Due to the alignment of the fibers (original cut) and the thinness of the slab, I never dared to challenge it. Now I have grown a bit, so I finally I dare to get carving. As said, one slab, 3 challenges on 3 different platforms. Namibian Pietersite, "The Slab"  Cut-offs and preforms, wet  Done. This bigger one, needed an extra day of rubbing away on 2000 grid paper to get more chatoyancy into a head on view. Still needs an angle to get the full effect, but it turned out quite reasonable. Like the intense colour, and once one sees the effect its smoth as silk.  This is the easier of the two cabs, as its small, so realigning the fibers to get all round effect was rather easy. Has full colour-range head on, as well as from most angles.  Colour changes with light-source, but overall its quite bright. Maybe a bit more intense to naked eye than in pictures. Here my fav picture thus far  Now on to the carving part,...... Thanks for looking, Kurt |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 12, 2017 18:51:02 GMT -5
Wow! That's some really nice material and BEAUTIFUL cabs! It;s hard to believe you do them by hand. I love the shape on the second one.
The eagle will be fabulous. Can't wait to see it.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on May 12, 2017 20:45:06 GMT -5
Killer cab and yes I too am awaiting the finished eagle. As always Kurt, you inspire....Cheers
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on May 12, 2017 22:37:43 GMT -5
Amazing cabs.
The eagle should come out awesome. Cannot wait to see the progress.
Adrian
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Post by kk on May 13, 2017 19:36:37 GMT -5
Thank you.
Will take my time with the bird, as I don.t wanna risk the wing-tips.
Would be devastating to the overall look if one of them would break off.
In front of the bird, I might keep the material and give it some form of wave pattern.
Somehow, it does remind me of stormy seas.......
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Post by kk on May 14, 2017 7:48:02 GMT -5
OK, time to start the bird.  Thanks for bearing with me,  |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 14, 2017 8:03:14 GMT -5
You got a lot done already! I can see that it's gonna be AWESOME. The wings have great definition already.
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Post by kk on May 18, 2017 8:08:31 GMT -5
Rough cut  Not happy with tail and head yet, but has to wait till next weekend. So its sanding for the rest of the week. Also, dont know yet what to do with the material in front. Should be utilized as a bail, but undecided as to eventual shape. |
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Post by captbob on May 18, 2017 8:17:31 GMT -5
Been following this with admiration of your shills. Thank you for sharing with us.
With the material in front of the head, how about a Sun so that it looks like your bird is soaring into it. Maybe even a half Sun and the bird is already covering the lower half of it.
Looking forward to your progress reports!
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Post by kk on May 18, 2017 8:41:44 GMT -5
Yep, the sun/moon idea is a great one. "once in a blue moon" comes to mind.
The reservation I got with it is that I would have to drill it to facilitate/become a bail.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on May 18, 2017 9:17:00 GMT -5
Kurt as said on F/B those are killer and that bird is top notch!!!!
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Post by coloradocliff on May 18, 2017 10:14:37 GMT -5
Rough cut Not happy with tail and head yet, but has to wait till next weekend. So its sanding for the rest of the week. Also, dont know yet what to do with the material in front. Should be utilized as a bail, but undecided as to eventual shape. Wow The bird is flying now Free from the stony prison. That's fantastic. Keeping my fingers crossed that the delicate work can be finished without misshap. Wonderful. |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 18, 2017 12:05:04 GMT -5
What if a sunor moon had rays that a bail could fit between?? Did I say that right? You always amaze me. I know no one says this enough but I'm sure I speak for a lot of people in saying- thank you so much for taking the time to share the journey of your creations. |
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Post by kk on May 18, 2017 17:21:31 GMT -5
Mishaps can, will and have happened (quite a few on the left wing), but that's part of carving (even more so on material with fibers or soft stone (both of them here). I don't like the idea of stabilizing, so I rather take the challenge and chance to ruin something, than pump it full with plastic. But that's just me. Thats also one of the reasons that I do not look forward doing custom jobs; as I always end up with something different from what I set out for. Having no clubs around here, the internet is the only opportunity to talk and show off.... So things can be a bit lonely, and one becomes unsure of the direction taken amid the silence. Hence any and all replies are treasured and an immense recourse to keep going. Thank you all for bearing with me over all this time. |
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Post by kk on May 21, 2017 0:25:21 GMT -5
I usually dont like that kind of pietersite! Completely void of yellow, and red has hardly any chatoyancy, yet perfect for this project. OK, I think I'm done with the cutting. Now back to sanding. Found a way to hide hole for cord at the back of the head. Should be done soon. Looks like there is a second bird sitting on the blue moon  |
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on May 21, 2017 1:03:51 GMT -5
You say "thank you for bearing with me...", egad, I and likely many others look forward to "bearing with you" so as to get a look at the next thing you have created. Your talent and patience are greatly appreciated here.
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wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
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Post by wampidytoo on May 21, 2017 8:47:01 GMT -5
What quartz said times ten. I have been watching you for a long time and have enjoyed every post. I think I have said this before but when I grow up I want to be as good a carver as you but I am quite sure I am not going to live that long.
Jim
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Post by kk on May 23, 2017 7:45:21 GMT -5
Ready for flight. Thank you Bobby1. Material worked out much better than expected.    Just in case, I ever come into money and would be able to set into metals, I hid the hole for the cord behind the head (downward hole).  . On to the next piece, Australian Black Jade. First try in a real carving in the round.A year late, was waiting for jade-symposium, but its not going to happen, so now, a "New Beginning". I usually melt the sides in order to hide the differences in style and/or proportions between back and front. This one should be clearly carved on 6 sides. Design drawn up nearly exactly a year ago, started today. |
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Post by fantastic5 on May 23, 2017 7:54:52 GMT -5
Amazing work! Simply beautiful!
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Post by coloradocliff on May 23, 2017 8:20:45 GMT -5
Ready for flight. Thank you Bobby1. Material worked out much better than expected. Just in case, I ever come into money and would be able to set into metals, I hid the hole for the cord behind the head (downward hole). . On to the next piece, Australian Black Jade. First try in a real carving in the round.A year late, was waiting for jade-symposium, but its not going to happen, so now, a "New Beginning". I usually melt the sides in order to hide the differences in style and/or proportions between back and front. This one should be clearly carved on 6 sides. Design drawn up nearly exactly a year ago, started today. Turned out really, really good . Because of your patience, fore thought and meticious skill level. You hit a grand slam on a beacutiful, expensive and diffecult material. Congratulation's. Cliff
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