I have for some time been getting a little concerned that all my carving has been just “sketches”. Well, I’m about to change all that.
I was at a friend’s 50th birthday party yesterday and was chatting to her twin sister when it turned out she is not only potty about frogs but also has a pet albino African frog living in a tank at her flat. She talks to ” Humphrey” all the time apparently.
Anyway it turns out she had no idea that I carve and I showed her the photos of the Frog I carved for Mum,
Suffice it to their patina from the oils in the holdero made my Babe Trace promise that I would carve her a frog…
Now here is the dilemma, do I take the easy way out and just give her Mum’s frog, she would certainly cherish it but then I’d have lost a little bit of Mum. Or, do I do a quick and dirty, “sketch” of a frog that I would never be that happy with?
Or do I go for the honest option and make a real effort to carve something I’m really proud of. I’ve been contemplating doing a proper Netsuki for a while now and I think this might be just the impetus I need to get on with it….
So it’s about time I got on with the design. I know what kind of constraints I want to place on the work, all that really remains is to study frogs a bit more before I start drawing.
These little fellas are just soooo cute!!!
It’s definitely got to be a tree frog but what pose?? I’ve got a squarish block of Box lying around to use but again, which pose??
Constraints
Size: No more than 1.5″ x 1.5″ x 1.0″
It needs to hang on a chord so it can be worn around the neck
Shape: well traditionally Netsuke were made to be handled and they then took their patina from the natural oils in your skin. So a rounded style overall with smooth edges and no sharp corners. It needs to invite you to fondle it.
OK, so the subject is decided on, a red eyed tree frog. Haven’t quite decided on the ojime yet but I’ll think some more about that.
Next post will need to be some designs I think
Carved by Trev 