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Post by kk on Aug 15, 2018 20:46:29 GMT -5
Bobby1 is putting us all to shame.
In comparison, the rest of us, just started a short while ago, and its hard to keep up improving. Yet, his lifelong passion still produces improvements in perfection and inovations.
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Post by kk on Aug 14, 2018 10:05:27 GMT -5
Hi there. It sounds like you got everything you need. Including basic knowledge of how things work. Equipment is sufficient to get started, and varies little with selected materials. Your experience with deep carving/engraving will lead automatically to eventual 3D carvings. Don't push it, let inspiration guide you. Perfection will come in time. If you got questions along the way, let us know, and quite a few of us will give you suggestions. Don't be afraid to ask, no one here will be disappointment if you don't follow through on suggestions, and instead make it work your own way.
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Post by kk on Aug 14, 2018 9:55:25 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Aug 12, 2018 9:51:13 GMT -5
As always, its extremely hard to get the colours head on. In carving its a bit easier, as one is bound to get at least some angles right.
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Post by kk on Aug 12, 2018 8:34:37 GMT -5
The little moonstone that I have worked thus far, always showed chattoyancy along the cleavage (along the grain). Same as labradorite..... hence my question.
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Post by kk on Aug 12, 2018 5:53:01 GMT -5
You seem to be cutting thew moonstone against the grain. Is there a reason for that?
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Post by kk on Aug 10, 2018 3:03:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the trip report and the attending stories. Surprising here to see the seeming lack of forethought and quality in construction, and the difficulty of ability to transform paper to 3D. Who does the building, has to come from somewhere even if shoddy, or maybe that is cause of shoddy. Maybe, there is a kind of resignation in the whole process. Where everyone involved knows that only speed and financial rewards are respected. Why build quality, when nothing really belongs to you and or is not supposed to last a hundred years. Buildings are quite often razed after as little as 20 years instead of being renovated, simply because by then you can build taller and hence make more money with it. In China today, manpower is cheap, and so is the value of life. Like everywhere in the world, quality of life is far from ideal, and everyone complains, yet no one actually does something about it.
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Post by kk on Aug 9, 2018 19:23:37 GMT -5
Glenn PS - I have shot bare bow (no sights) since age 7. Arthritis makes archery more difficult now, but I still make arrows for the kids and grand kids. Fun sport! I have always been interested in archery, but did not have the opportunity to practice till about ten years ago. Living in a village with surrounding fields, allowed practice regularly, and at times being joined by locals with their own bows. But then we where overrun by outsiders settling here, and those rectally challenged A-holes had nothing better to do than calling the police on us for endangering people and wildlife. As I/we did nothing illegal (owning and shooting on private land is not illegal here in Hong Kong), the police usually just escorted us home with an awkward smile to satisfy those trolls. We do have 3 shooting ranges in Hong Kong, but they are to far from my location, and the cost and other stipulations are not to my liking. Since gaining access to the cabin on the mountain, I was thinking of re-starting practice. But its country-park and very tall grass, so my two bows would have me loose arrows en-masse in absence of building a catch area. So now, having bought a new bow with half the draw weight and found an ideal location (uphill and with few rock in the ground), the fun can start again. Bare bow is the norm for now. I got two sights, but don't use them yet. That comes when I'm ready to go for greater distances and practice turns to point shooting. For now, the target is about the size of a human torso, and the practice is limited to gaining necessary strength and stability. Stance, breathing and handling of arrow and bow need to become habit before point-shooting becomes possible.
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Post by kk on Aug 9, 2018 18:37:57 GMT -5
Kids everywhere like to get their hands dirty with art projects. Glenn Not so much... Let me quote a reply that I gave on another forum: The ant farm is a good analogy! Youngsters in today's China feel free as such, they know there are limitations in their freedoms, yet have accepted them as norm. Like everywhere in the world, youngsters and people in general have turned to technology to entertain themselves at all times, unwittingly giving the powers to be, virtually absolute control over them. When one has the luxury to step back and observe from afar it becomes quite clear that times are as bad as in the 60's or even worse, where everyone reported on everyone. The acceptance and dependency on internet has given the Government access and control into peoples lives like never before. It is rumored that China can find anyone within 7 minutes anywhere in China, and that you need to have a "good" internet presence if you want better rents, water or electricity bills, etc.... Even for outsiders like myself, writing this, might hinder being able to get my visa next year as they suddenly placed yet another government department between application and approval (which I suspect is looking into your web-presence before handing it over for for processing). That extra department is to be paid, but unassailable and can not be interacted with in any form. When it comes to expression in the arts, and other activities, I can only speak of people I have met. And they are a generation that only knows life in a city. The migrants from the seventies have settled, and their children have zero knowledge of their parents early life, in theory or practice. Students study early China in depth and while names go lost in translation, I realized very quickly that they know more about historical figures than I do. But, that stops with about a hundred years ago, and knowledge becomes very selective. I asked as example as to how many provinces China has today, and not one student in 6 classes could give me a correct answer. I also asked all classes about hiking, and only 4 kids in close to 150 admitted that they had actually left the city for that purpose, with one who turned out to be on the extreme side, having had trips to mountains as tall as 20000 feet. But he told me that only in private, obviously not wanting his classmates to know about it. Life skills, with this, are limited to a foreseeable future, geared to what they need to fit in, and that's technology based skills. Arts, the like of music and painting/drawing are going strong, as they conform and can be turned into Electronic versions too. Give them a task and they will do it to the best of their ability. But ask them to take an object off the paper or screen and realize it in 3D, or teamwork where they have to decide for themselves what and how to reach a goal, then things seem to fall apart. Public speaking has the same limitations. No one wants to stand out. Everyone has fun looking at others do it, but become turtles when asked to do it themselves. In a group, they do it brilliantly and willingly, but alone? ? Like everywhere in the world, the internet has become a a sort of drug that fosters dependence and control over our lifes like never before. China is simply serves as a good example of the open secret it is, and the resulting consequences. Don't for a moment think that those things do not apply to any country you might be in presently.
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Post by kk on Aug 9, 2018 5:04:50 GMT -5
As every year, we where invited to hold summer courses for 13-15 year old students in China. While the activities are loosely based on Canada (Trade Commission is sponsoring)part of the cost, the idea is to give the kids a chance to practice English, and to get a feel for a Western style classroom. The schools we are at actively promote for their students to go overseas for college and/or university levels. Our team this year China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr We where 3 teachers this year. Two Brits, and myself. As one of the Brits is an active Boxer, he does a lot of sports and games. The other is into all sorts of art and music, so his classes utilize those areas. Leaving me with spoken language based classes and of course with my by now customary Totem project. Anything goes as long as the kids are interested in participation. And if that means they can turn us into a cartoon? so be it........ China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr In order to keep something of Canada in the subject, we ask each class to prepare part of a totem in the image of their class-name. China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And then stack it up China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr First school had class-names that where quite easily to convert. BUT I still wanna kick my colleague for allowing class-names in the second school. Having neither relevance to Canada, nor a place on a totem. "Amazing Rocket" and "Social Fish" After a lot failed attempts in creating something even close to fit onto a totem, I realized that those students are bright and willing, yet have absolutely no ability to neither listen to step by step instructions, nor the ability to give shape to an actual 3D object in concert with their team members. So after time run out, I redid their efforts, taking their ideas and build the basic shape. And because of the inability to follow instructions, put a scared chicken on top of the rocket. (Chicken and Monkey on my piece, as all students are born in corresponding years) China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr I rather like the chicken on that rocket....... China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Naturally we had to mess around a bit in order to get the students to perform any public speaking,.... So we had to show them by example.... No one understood the poem, but at least no-one was playing on their phones either ........ China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr 2018 china drama by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr The city Guangzhou is a huge metropolis, but very artificial. Its getting harder to find "Old China". But its still there, if you look close enough.... China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Sunrise within the city is not something I want to get used to... China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Everything these days is build on the quick. Nothing to last.... So was also our accommodation.... Clean as such, but very low quality and seemingly designed by a toddler being given the leftovers from a yard-sale. China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Huge kitchenette and lots of storage space for utensils, yet no fridge and a sink without water. No storage space for clothes at all, except one rack right above the mirror. So one can either hang ones clothes, or utilizes the mirror. etc.... Towels on TV, is a habit of mine in any hotel-room these days. I'm 100% certain that management and or in case here in China, the police can access the in-build cameras. On the second to last day, I managed to break the sink in the washroom. As it turns out, the sink rests on a wooden box that basically had been glued to the wall....... Reported it to the reception, they came changed the whole set within 20 minutes without a word. Seems to happen more often.... China 2018 trip by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr So, I'm glad to be back home after nearly 4 weeks over there. Back to family (unfortunately not all of them, as Lilo (my older dog (17 years old)) passed while I was gone. Back to the cabin, armed with a new lightweight recurve bow (40 pound draw weight), to finally getting started practicing after nearly 7 years. Restarting by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Messy for now and only at 60 feet. But fun to get back into. Thanks for looking, Kurt
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Post by kk on Aug 9, 2018 3:50:23 GMT -5
Doodle of an idea to maximize red features. BUT, that means I gotta do a face again. I feel comfortable with body-shapes and feathers (got feathers way more often than I should) But, those danged faces..... serpentine doodle by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
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Post by kk on Aug 8, 2018 18:51:58 GMT -5
I see a Phoenix rising. . Can see that. But layout is everything. Will have to look into some different design ideas.
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2018 21:23:30 GMT -5
Went on my annual trip to China in search of some yellow skinned nephrite like the one I found two years ago.... China 2018 search of stones by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Last year there was none to be had. This time round, there where nearly 30 sellers, yet the prices had gone up 15 to 20 fold. At first, I could not understand, but then, I went to the indoor-shops, and things became very clear. This type of nephrite has become incredibly popular, and could be had just about everywhere as finished product. I like it, but I do not have to have it. I'm not going to blow my budget on a single piece of stone...... Other visible trends this year: Amber holds strong and has now displaced virtually all agate offerings to outdoor stalls. Agate offerings hold strong too, yet I feel that there is more "enhanced" material on offer. Madagascar material is still strongly represented, but offerings like the one below have diminished in quantity. China 2018 search of stones by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr There is a noticeable increase of agate carvings China 2018 search of stones by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And was told that what they call "Harlequin" is agate too..... China 2018 search of stones by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr ..... not jasper, as previously presumed The use of that kind of agate has now surpassed the quantity of jade carvings in this market.. One other thing that seems to be coming strongly at this time, is pearls...... Turquoise on the other hand is on the way out. There are hardly any shops offering now. So with nothing of interest (have to research Harlequin agate first before committing) on offer in the rough, I ended up with a few pieces of agate and I suspect a serpentine. China 2018 search of stones by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr I think the pattern on the agate is shallow and colour has been achieved due to heating, so my plan is to cut into half sideways to preserve colour and pattern, and then carve the reverse in what I presume to be clear material. The presumed serpentine, is the winner this year. China 2018 search of stones by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Have been after this material for a while, and price reversed from the nephrite I looked for. Was very expensive in the past, but found this piece at a steal. Don't know yet what to do with it (motive to carve), but something will come up to fit the pattern, i'm sure, in time. Suggestions?
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2018 18:44:23 GMT -5
Why Madagascar, I still don't get it? .....johnw [/quote] Because thats where I'm told the agate came from....
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2018 18:41:09 GMT -5
What do you see? Looks like this dolphin never made it back to the water, and decided to walk the earth instead.....
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2018 6:41:36 GMT -5
OK,I give up, what is heated Madagascar? It looks like an elongated marble we would play with as kid. But, to answer your question, it looks like the creature from the black lagoon movie in the early fifties............1954. Cheers, johnw[/quote] Heated Madagascar simply refers to the possibility that this "Agate" is likely heat-treated. In kk's stone I see the grim reaper about to be attacked by a giant worm. As to image: I somehow had Norse myth in mind as soon as I saw this piece. I can imagine a Valkyrie rising or holding court.
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Post by kk on Aug 2, 2018 9:34:20 GMT -5
Got something new.... Most likely heated Madagascar..... What do you see... china deal by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
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Post by kk on Aug 1, 2018 23:40:28 GMT -5
This had better not be my first rock inspired nightmare. There's a first time for everything I think mine mighta been something like this.. Watching Lord Of The Rings again? Are we?
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Post by kk on Jul 25, 2018 9:02:45 GMT -5
The one thing that comes to mind seeing your creations is something I need to practice. Tribal faces!
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Post by kk on Jul 25, 2018 4:59:23 GMT -5
Can try. Glass should be about the same as obsidian.
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