Alsatian

[Ianw6522]

One of my carvings from this week, customer wanted a head and neck of their Alsatian, Black and Tan, which passed away recently, carved from a picture so i hope they like it...

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Ian, it's an awesome piece of work!

 

Here's the problem you might have. Dogs are such personal characters that it is close to, if not impossible to capture all of the character, personality, spirit of mans' best friend in an art form wether that be 2 dimensional (picture / painting) or 3 dimensional (carving / model.)

 

There's just too much in the original package for it to be realistically captured in an inanimate form. With the best will in the world, my wife commissioned models and pictures of my previous dogs.... I can't bear them (a) because it hurts and (b) because they aren't really good enough. Pains me to say it, and I haven't ever told her.

 

Your skills are awesome mate and I'd have a "generic" GSD from you any day, I wouldn't ask you to carve from a picture of a passed dog though, it just wouldn't be fair on either of us.

 

I hope your customer isn't as much of a soft head as I am and you'll be fine!

 

PS - best only refer to it as an Alsatian if that's what the customer calls it, otherwise best say it's a German Sheperd Dog - believe it or not, some get quite touchy about such things.

Edited March 10, 2017 by kevinjohnsonmbe

[Ianw6522]

Ian, it's an awesome piece of work!

 

Here's the problem you might have. Dogs are such personal characters that it is close to, if not impossible to capture all of the character, personality, spirit of mans' best friend in an art form wether that be 2 dimensional (picture / painting) or 3 dimensional (carving / model.)

 

There's just too much in the original package for it to be realistically captured in an inanimate form. With the best will in the world, my wife commissioned models and pictures of my previous dogs.... I can't bear them (a) because it hurts and (b) because they aren't really good enough. Pains me to say it, and I haven't ever told her.

 

Your skills are awesome mate and I'd have a "generic" GSD from you any day, I wouldn't ask you to carve from a picture of a passed dog though, it just wouldn't be fair on either of us.

 

I hope your customer isn't as much of a soft head as I am and you'll be fine!

 

PS - best only refer to it as an Alsatian if that's what the customer calls it, otherwise best say it's a German Sheperd Dog - believe it or not, some get quite touchy about such things.

 

Kevin, thank you for the response, you are correct about the carving not being able to compare to the real think, i had a Golden Retriever commission to be carved from a 14 year old picture. When they came to collect the finished carving i could see on there faces that it wasnt their dog...... i didnt let them have it, it sold the next day as a Golden Retriever carving

 

Thanks for your advice on calling the carving a German Sheperd i think thats the way to go when they come to see it tomorrow. I have said to them that there is no obligation to buy it unless they are totally happy with how it looks.

 

Much appreciated.

Ian

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Good luck mate!

[gobbypunk]

Hi kevin , sorry I think you are wrong my girlfriend does pencil drawings of dogs living and dead ones from pictures , it takes her ages but I tell you she has had people in tears with the way she can caputre what the dogs are like , but its a rare gift to be able to capture that living spark , sorry just had to say , but nice job on the dog , I am finding carving animals quite hard , its all the fine features , hope the client likes it .

Cheers Mark

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Hi kevin , sorry I think you are wrong my girlfriend does pencil drawings of dogs living and dead ones from pictures , it takes her ages but I tell you she has had people in tears with the way she can caputre what the dogs are like , but its a rare gift to be able to capture that living spark , sorry just had to say , but nice job on the dog , I am finding carving animals quite hard , its all the fine features , hope the client likes it .

Cheers Mark

 

Yes Mark, sorry, I was seeing it only from my very limited (non-existent) artistic capability.

 

How did it go with the customer Ian??

[Ianw6522]

There was a lot of tears when they saw the carving, that Yemen that they liked the carving without them having to say anything..... I'm pleased with the result

Thanks all

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

There was a lot of tears when they saw the carving, that Yemen that they liked the carving without them having to say anything..... I'm pleased with the result ��

Thanks all ��

 

Nice one!!!

[Khriss]

Thats good work ( Had a lot of Alsations ) K

[Ianw6522]

Thats good work ( Had a lot of Alsations ) K

 

Thank you Khriss, very much appreciated