Five Wolves, 2011
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 3 - Phase 8-11) by Shane Wilson
November 17, 2011
Wolf 3 was challenging, to say the least. It is carved almost completely from the inner, softer and more porous antler. Detail and depth, the subtle shaping of bone, muscle and hair - all become exponentially more difficult and time consuming as there is little room for error.
When working from a reference photograph, such as this, it is necessary to determine where the animal 'lies' in 3D space. This becomes more difficult when the photograph is taken using a telephoto lens, since the effect is to compress the subject.
After studying dozens of other photographs of wolves in various states of repose, and reviewing wolf anatomy, I was able to locate the major landmarks (hip, knee, shoulder blade, vertebrae) in order to properly orient this wolf in the antler.
When working from a reference photograph, such as this, it is necessary to determine where the animal 'lies' in 3D space. This becomes more difficult when the photograph is taken using a telephoto lens, since the effect is to compress the subject.
After studying dozens of other photographs of wolves in various states of repose, and reviewing wolf anatomy, I was able to locate the major landmarks (hip, knee, shoulder blade, vertebrae) in order to properly orient this wolf in the antler.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 4 - Phase 8-11) by Shane Wilson
November 07, 2011
The various stages of laying in the hair patterns and sculpting the whole to create the illusion of three dimensionality. Note the soft inner section causes a banding across the wolf's back and a need for extreme caution during the carving process, since this material is extremely delicate.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 5 - Phase 12) by Shane Wilson
November 05, 2011
After working on Wolf 4 for a week (in progress images and notes to follow), I returned to Wolf 5 to finish up the details.
While doing so, I realized that photographing the sculpture from up close was distorting the illusion I am creating for this piece, since the relief was designed to provide the greatest verisimilitude when the work is viewed from a moderate distance, sitting on table or shelf.
This image was taken from a distance of about six feet (two meters) with a moderately zoomed telephoto lens under ambient florescent light (never the most flattering).
While doing so, I realized that photographing the sculpture from up close was distorting the illusion I am creating for this piece, since the relief was designed to provide the greatest verisimilitude when the work is viewed from a moderate distance, sitting on table or shelf.
This image was taken from a distance of about six feet (two meters) with a moderately zoomed telephoto lens under ambient florescent light (never the most flattering).
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 5 - Phase 8-11) by Shane Wilson
November 02, 2011
Back to Wolf 5. The bulk of the carving is done now, save some detailing of fur on the legs and refining some of the transitions between fur zones or planes.
I have included two images taken from the left and right side of the wolf (below), so that you can see the curve of the antler and the effect of the relief carving.
I'll continue by working through each of the remaining four wolves to a completion point, then effect the last minute adjustments and touches before creating the bases.
I have included two images taken from the left and right side of the wolf (below), so that you can see the curve of the antler and the effect of the relief carving.
I'll continue by working through each of the remaining four wolves to a completion point, then effect the last minute adjustments and touches before creating the bases.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 1 - Phase 2-7) by Shane Wilson
October 25, 2011
This is Wolf 1. The following images show the progress from the outlining stage (bottom), right up to the completion of the basic shaping of the major planes with some face detail (top).
This one was difficult for a couple of reasons. It took a little while to get my own head around the fact that the wolf's head is upside down, so gravity acts on the facial skin and muscles differently. Also, the wolf's head is also partially buried in the pillow of snow, pushing the plane within the antler upon which it is carved back into the middle soft, sponge-toffee like layer, where the creation of detail is much more difficult.
Time now to move onto the final detailing and mounting phase for each of the wolves.
This one was difficult for a couple of reasons. It took a little while to get my own head around the fact that the wolf's head is upside down, so gravity acts on the facial skin and muscles differently. Also, the wolf's head is also partially buried in the pillow of snow, pushing the plane within the antler upon which it is carved back into the middle soft, sponge-toffee like layer, where the creation of detail is much more difficult.
Time now to move onto the final detailing and mounting phase for each of the wolves.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 2 - Phase 2-7) by Shane Wilson
October 03, 2011
This is Wolf 2. The following images show the progress from the outlining stage (bottom), right up to the completion of the basic shaping of the major planes with some face detail (top).
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the last wolf up to the same level of completion.
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the last wolf up to the same level of completion.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 3 - Phase 2-7) by Shane Wilson
September 27, 2011
This is Wolf 3. The following images show the progress from the outlining stage (bottom), right up to the completion of the basic shaping of the major planes with some face detail (top).
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the next wolf up to the same level of completion.
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the next wolf up to the same level of completion.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 4 - Phase 2-7) by Shane Wilson
September 21, 2011
This is Wolf 4. The following images show the progress from the outlining stage (bottom), right up to the completion of the basic shaping of the major planes with some face detail (top).
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the next wolf up to the same level of completion.
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the next wolf up to the same level of completion.
'Five Wolves' (Wolf 5 - Phase 2-7) by Shane Wilson
September 12, 2011
I have been working on Wolf 5 for the past couple of weeks. The following images show the progress from the outlining stage (bottom), right up to the completion of the basic shaping of the major planes with some face detail (top).
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the next wolf up to the same level of completion.
There is plenty still to do, but I'm going to put this wolf aside for now while I bring the next wolf up to the same level of completion.
'Five Wolves' (Phase 1) by Shane Wilson
August 19, 2011
Using a scroll saw, I have cut the rough blanks for each of the five wolf sculptures from moose antler.
'Five Wolves' (Beginning) by Shane Wilson
August 17, 2011
I have been asked to create five smaller moose antler sculptures for the Arts On Atlantic Gallery in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This group will feature five wolves in various poses.
Thinking of Christmas ...
Thinking of Christmas ...