Honest opinions needed

[MAC]

I've been messing around carving a striper or 2 in the last few years. This is the first one I put scales on and need some opinions. Do the scales make it look too "busy" ? Or should I stick to just smooth sides with the lines? The scales were a PIA and took 3 hrs alone.

Thanks for any opinions. Be honest as I can take it.

[luds]

That's still amazing but I like the other one I had see before a little better. Like I said, still freiken nice.

[MAC]

Here's a better shot

[BigFish]

Nice work Dave! Don't change a thing! Anything that beautiful is going to take time...well worth it!

[chief10]

that looks awesome

[ridler72]

Nice work! Wish I had that talent!

[ThrowingTimber]

Dave,

The scales dont make the piece look busy at all. The piece looks perfect! You may be thinking it is busy because you've spent so much time up close and tight to the piece. Just set it down about 5 to 7 feet away and you wont be so focused on the scales and you'll see it doesnt look very busy at all. (end RISD nerd comments)


Looks PERFECT DUDE!!!

[scottw]

Pretty impressive, looks like a lot of time and effort and fun! I'm in the antique business and you might investigate a guy by the name of Leander Plummer who worked out of New Bedford around the turn of the century and began as a furniture carver but eventually learned that his passion was "carvings after nature" specifically local fish, he studied the local species and tidal pools and produced some amazing carvings, the glazes that he developed to reproduce the finishes that made them come to life. There are books on his work, I sold one of his carvings years ago that included a blackfish and lobster...he was the best and his much sought after work still shows up occasionally at auction. Scott

[animal]

Killer work,Dave.I like the scales.

[scottw]

I just mentioned him because you you might find some techniques or inspiration that you can incorporate into your own work, which is pretty cool...keep up the good work!...Scott

[Slipknot]

Make a mold with plaster then make some out of ceramic, my mom can paint or glaze them with the green you need to add and fire it.

that looks impressive Mac, maybe you can get the same effect by painting the scales on or are you just simply trying to keep with natural wood tones and stain it?

[tattoobob]

I like them both, the scales adds more to look at

very nice work Mac

[rivsie11]

I think they look great!

[JohnR]

MAC - Make one side scaled and the other scaleless. Ship it to me and I'll let you know what I think after looking at the problem long term...

[Clogston29]

very nice. i'd lose the scales (or make them stand out less somehow), they take away from the stripes IMO

[In The Surf]

Both are very nice Dave.
You have the Midas touch when it comes to working with wood.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by JohnR

MAC - Make one side scaled and the other scaleless. Ship it to me and I'll let you know what I think after looking at the problem long term...

LOL, Actually I'll have one for ya at TFTCN....... Not sure if it will be scales or smooth though. My wife already claimed the smooth one I did a few weeks ago.

[tlapinski]

To me, the scales look too busy.

[Kevin M]

That's a nice piece of work! I like the scales but I wonder how it would look with just stripes.

Thanks for sharing.

[Slingah]

a bit busy....takes away from the stripes..
still is great though Dave...

[Nebe]

too busy. you want the stripes to speak out- If you were to use a technique that gave you a more subtle scale pattern, but do a heavier scale line for the stripes, you will have a stronger surface design... its not a scaled bass- its a striped bass

[maddog2020]

Post a pic of the one your wife claimed w/out the scales, Dave.

I like the ones without the scales and just the dashed lines/dots like you did last time.

Regardless - they are nicely done. I lack the patience to do something like that. Easier for me to pay some one to do it - hang it on the wall and enjoy it.

Down side is if I could do it well, my wife would volunteer me to make ones for other people .... LOL. :P

Leed's Farm which is about 1 mile west of me on Rt 9 east bound side - the daughter there does wood burning. She makes it look too easy. She just freehands everything w/out laying out it. Now and then they have an open house and she sits out there for a bit and entertains the kids that stop in while the parents poke around. They use to sell native honey that was awesome - unfortunately the bee populations locally have been hurt so they barely had enough for themselves so they didn't sell any this fall.

[Tagger]

Dave ... Thats a nice piece of work .. If your talking Striper and I'm being 100% honest I like the other better .. Being the proud owner of a learning curve piece .. I wouldn't trade you for that one .. I think the scales are out of scale also .. If the scales were smaller and you could just pec a few in like Ryans blue fish plug maybe that would work .. If your hell bent on scales..

[Tagger]

how much for the plug hanging out of its yap ...?

[The Iceman 6]

That's a beautiful job, do post the other one with the scales (I haven't seen it).

[MAC]

I added a picture of the other one my wife claimed. She had me burn her name into it so I wouldn't trade it.

[Kevin M]

Yes! The one with just the stripes is beautiful. Nice work.

[tynan19]

There both amazing but the one with out scales looks better to me.

[PNG]

Nice job Mac.

I like both but what if you made the scales easier, lighter not so heavy handed - ghost like...

Idea - Make the scales on a practice wood then sand'm good see what they look like

[maddog2020]

NO SCALES for sure. Ya wife knows best!