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

[In The Surf]

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

[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

[thortum]

Originally Posted by 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

I agree with Nebe. There are too many scales and they are too dark. Scales should fade away from head to tail, and from back to belly. Also it would look better if you could blend in the hard lines such at fins and gill plate. There should be less contrast at the head also. I hope I don,t sound too critical but I,m just offering constuctive criticism. You might want to try another carving technique to highlight the scales and gill plate, rather than painting them in. Good luck and keep posting them. I'm sure we all like seeing a budding artist.

[Jenn]

I say both look good but given a chance to compare the two... I would say no scales....sometimes less is better!

[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!

[afterhours]

stripes, no scales.

[keeperreaper]

MAC,

Looks great! If you need a mantle to display it on let me know. It would look awesome on mine.

[Raider Ronnie]

scales or not,
Very cool Mac

[eastendlu]

Both are buetiful works of art Dave.As to your question i prefer the one without the scales.

[basshunter]

both are beautiful works, definitely a great talent, nice job on both
when do you start to sell them????

[Charlie G]

Dave they are both great wooks.
I must say I'm drawn to the carving without scales. It may be the dark contrast with the scales and fins and the lateral lines are to faint on the scaled one. Also the mouth looks nicer on the one with out the scales, maybe cause it's not open as much and the fishs shape that way. The wife has a good eye !

[Stewie]

I'm going to have to vote against the scales. Sorry Mac.....Stewie

[NIB]

I'm In..

[ProfessorM]

Looks very good. IMO a little lighter on the scales so they don't standout quite so much but I like them on the fish.

[Saltheart]

I like the no scales better.

Maybe less pronounced scales would work? I think the scales on the one pictured here break up the lines too much so it does not look like a striper.

Nice work on both though!

edited to read "does not".

[westhavendave]

Mac, I prefer the bass without scales, I also prefer the stripes from the bass with scales more than the unscaled basses stripes, a little more realistic, because we all know the stripes are actually a row of dots. hope this wasn't too confusing. Beautiful work.

[lurch]

Nice work! IMO I would add the scales but lighten them so that the stripes stand out more.

[gone fishin]

Less scales - Beautiful work as usual Dave, but the scales seem to stand out too much.