Post #294492 by Tamapoutini on Sun, Mar 25, 2007 2:13 PM

On 2007-03-25 13:17, pdrake wrote:
well, it's almost finished. now i have no idea where to put the hole. any suggestions?

A: "Decide from the very start where you are going to put them and allow room..." :lol: :lol: :lol:
Please forgive my teasing, its just that I have faced this particular problem many times myself & am repeating my own Mantra to you.

The areas you circled as 'problem' spots just need a little more taken off them to rectify those ridges. As Ben said, you would need to readdress with whatever tool/s you made the rest of that shaping with. I tend to run a pen or pencil mark along ridges so that you can find them again once the water is running on them. Ditto any small bumps or hollows; not that you seem to be having any trouble with them. Your shaping is getting remarkably smooth; the rest of this hook esp. the internal facets are looking very crisp & of 'gallery quality' already in my opinion (Galleries come in all shapes/sizes/qualities too you know - I found that my work was accepted by 'lesser' galleries at the start & found its way into more upmarket venues quite naturally as skills/quality improved - prices follow suit) Once you've got 6-10 pieces that you are happy with & that work well as a group (this is important! most outlets/galleries prefer to see some continuity running through a group of work, as this helps to reinforce trust that the artist knows what he/she is doing/can do it again, & also means that each piece 'backs up' and helps to sell the others) try contacting a gallery that you think might accept/suit them. I dont know about the US but over here most newcomers have to accept sale-or-return/consignment basis until a name is established & you can start to dictate a few rules of your own.

Keep it up; I wouldnt bother telling you this if didnt think your work/potential up to it. Because we are working on such a small/fine scale I would suggest working your designs out on paper first & then transfer onto the stone. Get your designs as perfectly proportioned/refined as you can make them before transferring and then stick to those lines as best you can. There is always a little 'wandering' but a bit of evolution is ok. As time goes on you can loosen this approach a bit but for now I would advise concentrating on how accurately you can stick to your design; this seems to be your way anyway and is the approach of many great carvers.

I understand how Maori designs must appeal but I always advise that people find their own style/devices/approach/subject matter: If I were in the US I would be using local jade & trying to create myself a wee niche market. Jade can be turned into anything; I have been commissioned to make horseshoes for horsey-types, Chevrolet/Harley.D badges for the rev-heads, warm tingly family-stuff for new parents, alien heads, New-Age symbols, etc, etc... Even in NZ where there is almost an inexhaustable demand for spirals/hooks etc, I advise carvers to find an area to specialise in - Cabachons/ring-stones is another avenue & perhaps the very best u$e for good stone; a tiny-but-well-made cab can fetch ridiculous money for use by metalsmiths...

Hope this helps!

Tama :)

[ Edited by: Tamapoutini 2007-03-25 14:16 ]