Additions to my Nautical themed grouping

[FrankEV]

I’ve been busy over the past couple of weeks producing this group in between multiple doctor appointments, blood work, CT Scan, Colonoscopy and a short, but much needed, vacation trip to wine country of North Georgia.

We had a grand time taking in all the Wineries.  We drank and purchased a lot of wine over the 4 day trip.

All the medical stuff is to do with a gastro problem that hopefully is resolved.  The big C was negative.  I’m told I just need to get MORE fiber.   However, I also needed to get cleared for, in late July after another trip to Virginia Beach for family get together vacation, a scheduled partial knee replacement.  FUN RIGHT?   I’m hopeful it will be a short recovery until I can sit at the scroll saw and operate the foot pedal again.  I presume the recovery period in order to be able to ride my motorcycle again will take considerably longer.

Now back to bragging about my project.

I converted the patterns for the following projects from various free stencils or illustrations available on line.  These projects were made to supplement my portfolio to include pieces that may be more attractive to the local beach community citizens who frequent the Gallery that I exhibit in.

All pieces are my typical construction using 5/32” Maple or Walnut Solid Core Ply Cut panels affixed to hand painted 1/4” BB ply backers.  All cutting using Pegas #2/0, #0 and/or #1 spiral blades.  All hand painting was done with Artist Acrylic paints.   Panels were finished with multiple coats of Clear Glossy Lacquer.

All the Frames are simple 1 3/4" wide Poplar, stained and then finished with multiple coats of Satin Wipe-on Poly or painted.

Mermaid and Fish, 11X17,  Painted Black cut panel affixed to a BB ply backer.  Frame Painted Black. 

 

Crane on One Leg, 11x17

 

  

Fishing Boat, 11x14

 

Sailboats, 11x14

 

Sailboat at Sea. 11x14

 

Crab 11x14

 

Jelly Fish, 11x14

 

Octopus, 11x14.  (The hand painting on this piece could have been a loot better.)

[meflick]

Those are some beautiful pieces that I would think would appeal to the beach person. Let us know how you do with them in the gallery. Glad to hear you had nothing major show up in those dr visits. Glad you got some vacation time in.

[Jim McDonald]

Great coloring to add some snap to the cuttings.

[Fish]

Great work!

[preprius]

My 2 favorites are:

The jellyfish has great coloring. The inner tenacles captures the curled flat texture really well.

The mermaid has some really artistic smooth curves with flare. 

 

The mermaid in colors might make it better.  The butterfly fish would stand out more.  But I have no clue what colors to use.  This is just a thought for the next time you do this mermaid.

[Frank Pellow]

Well done, as always, Frank! 

I particularly like the jelly fish and would purchase it if I could visit your gallery.

[lawson56]

They are Fantastic!!! Love the Octopus.

[FrankEV]

6 hours ago, preprius said:

...The mermaid in colors might make it better.  The butterfly fish would stand out more.  But I have no clue what colors to use.  This is just a thought for the next time you do this mermaid.

I though hard about using color for the MM and fish.  Just could not decide if it would look correct.   The image is very strong as a silhoette and color, in this case, may not improve it.  But, you are correct, it might.

[SteveS]

I really like the theme you've chosen. The execution is exceptional. Thanks for sharing. Steve

[daveww1]

fantastic work

[barb.j.enders]

Fantastic work.  I love the crane!

[CSull]

The jellyfish is my favorite because of the colors you used and I love the way you have framed all the work, it really makes it standout.

[spirithorse]

Well done, Frank!
Thanks for sharing and God Bless! Spirithorse

[WolfmoonCT]

I like the octopus.. so did you cut out the octopus, and paint the dots on the backer after the octopus was glued to the backer?

[wombatie]

Some great looking work there and different too.  Time well spent.

Marg

[FrankEV]

8 hours ago, WolfmoonCT said:

I like the octopus.. so did you cut out the octopus, and paint the dots on the backer after the octopus was glued to the backer?

Yep.  

As I said , I do feel I could have done the paint work better.   Eventhough these pieces are not supposed to be an true representation, I had looked at pics of Octopus on line to get and idea of what colors I should use.  I had difficulty trying to produce an appropriate body color.  Adding the white dots representing the suckers was done after the cut panel was affixed to the backer.  These could/should have been more consistant.  My detail brush work is not very good.      

[Charlie E]

Very nice and fun to look at pieces Frank. I especially love the colors on the crab. Found myself going back to look at it several times.  

[FrankEV]

Hey gang, just wnat to say thanks for all the nice comments.

But JFYI:

It is funny how different people are attracted to  differnt things (I guess that is what maks us human).  

None of the boats gat a mention and I thought they were the more appealing pieces.  My lady raved over the Fishing Boat which see saw as a Tug Boat. 

Each of the sea creachers got at least one or more "like comments", even the Octopus, which I thought was kinda not so great. 

It is fun to post a group of pieces and see what comments people have.  I get a better feeling about the opinions of the work rather than when each piece is posted seperately.

Also, here is a observation I've made.  The SVV group is very supportive of each other, a great thing, but "I feel" they tend only to give praise.  Very little, if ever, is constructive critisim offered, which I find sad.  Positive comments are always a god thing but there are times when a little nagativity is both worthwhile and instructive. 

   

[WolfmoonCT]

I like the octopus because my little bathroom in the hallway, I have a shower curtain with a kracken on it, wrapped around a ship.  I have a glued up jigsaw puzzle of 3 frigates in the water that I am going to frame and hang in that bathroom. I think the octopus would go awesome in there, if you wouldn't mind sharing the pattern with me.

[FrankEV]

4 hours ago, Charlie E said:

... I especially love the colors on the crab....

Interesting comment Charlie.  I use on-line photos of my subject to try to get an idea of a fair color rendition.  My shading and blending of colors still needs to improve.  Just for the record, I'm not trying to make the illustrative image "real" but I don't want it to be tooooo "funky" or "abstract" either.   

Using color to enhance some of my scroll saw work kinda makes my work a little different from much of what this community does.  I seems to be getting positive reviews and I see a few others adding some color to their work.  I like to think some of what I have been doing is, in some small way, an insperation to others to think outside the box. 

 

[preprius]

19 minutes ago, FrankEV said:

.  Positive comments are always a god thing but there are times when a little nagativity is both worthwhile and instructive. 

   

Your projects are so different, and pleasing to the eye that limits the mindset to give creticism. 

I see your point on the mermaid is siloette. It kinda goes like an inverse at times.  Thus it is kinda hard to color.

[goldfish]

Nice work. I made this ages ago for my dad not much scroll saw but i thougt you might like it. I did scroll the little anker though

[Frank Pellow]

6 hours ago, FrankEV said:

...

Also, here is a observation I've made.  The SVV group is very supportive of each other, a great thing, but "I feel" they tend only to give praise.  Very little, if ever, is constructive critisim offered, which I find sad.  Positive comments are always a god thing but there are times when a little nagativity is both worthwhile and instructive. 

   

You are correct about that Frank.  I'm not surprised about the lack of negative criticism.  Most people are not good at either giving nor receiving constructive criticism.  In my career as a software developer specializing in human factors, such criticism was vital and I learned to depend on my few colleagues who were good at both. 

Another observation about SSW is that if you ask for advice and help, you are likely to get it.  Over the years, I have learned a LOT here and have seldom been disappointed. 

[meflick]

On 6/14/2021 at 2:48 PM, FrankEV said:

. . . 

Also, here is a observation I've made.  The SVV group is very supportive of each other, a great thing, but "I feel" they tend only to give praise.  Very little, if ever, is constructive critisim offered, which I find sad.  Positive comments are always a god thing but there are times when a little nagativity is both worthwhile and instructive. 

   

Here's my take which is a little different then yours.  First, I looked back over your post and no where did you ask for "constructive criticism" to be provided. Further, it was posted in the "Bragging" sub-forum so you were clearly happy enough with your work projects to post them there. As a result, I would not have offered any criticism (if I had any to give) in that instance.  I would never offer criticism, even if I considered it "constructive" if someone had not specifically asked for "insight" or "suggestions" or "ideas" on what to do differently/change. My theory is that if they are posting it for others to see - and did not ask for our "insight" or for "constructive criticism"- they were clearly happy with their end product and just wanted to share it and show it off and be happy with their finished piece.  I would not want to hurt or offend anyone by providing criticism that they did not seek.  Further, "Beauty" and a "great looking project" is as the old saying goes "in the eye of the beholder".  Clearly, they liked the project or they would not have posted it.   While I do think that we can learn from each other, I would only want to do so if someone asked for that help or insight. I would not want to hurt or offend someone by offering my unsolicited advise as to what I thought they had done wrong, could have done better, etc as that is not what they posted it for (because if it was and they wanted insight/feedback, they would ask for it.)  I do agree with Frank Pellow, most of us are not very good at giving or receiving criticism especially when it is not asked for.  I have seen many people in my years here in the village who do ask for insight/help/what can I do better.   I have done so before.  When they do that, they clearly want some help/advise.  If I don't ask for it - I just want you guys and gals - who understand the time and effort that can go into a piece to see what I did and be happy for me! I liked the piece and that is really all that matters to me.  I do know that when folks ask for help/insight or advise most people do their best to provide good, kind feedback that will help the OP with what they have inquired about.

[FrankEV]

2 hours ago, meflick said:

Here's my take which is a little different then yours.  First, I looked back over your post and no where did you ask for "constructive criticism" to be provided. Further, it was posted in the "Bragging" sub-forum so you were clearly happy enough with your work projects to post them there. As a result, I would not have offered any criticism (if I had any to give) in that instance.  I would never offer criticism, even if I considered it "constructive" if someone had not specifically asked for "insight" or "suggestions" or "ideas" on what to do differently/change. My theory is that if they are posting it for others to see - and did not ask for our "insight" or for "constructive criticism"- they were clearly happy with their end product and just wanted to share it and show it off and be happy with their finished piece.  I would not want to hurt or offend anyone by providing criticism that they did not seek.  Further, "Beauty" and a "great looking project" is as the old saying goes "in the eye of the beholder".  Clearly, they liked the project or they would not have posted it.   While I do think that we can learn from each other, I would only want to do so if someone asked for that help or insight. I would not want to hurt or offend someone by offering my unsolicited advise as to what I thought they had done wrong, could have done better, etc as that is not what they posted it for (because if it was and they wanted insight/feedback, they would ask for it.)  I do agree with Frank Pellow, most of us are not very good at giving or receiving criticism especially when it is not asked for.  I have seen many people in my years here in the village who do ask for insight/help/what can I do better.   I have done so before.  When they do that, they clearly want some help/advise.  If I don't ask for it - I just want you guys and gals - who understand the time and effort that can go into a piece to see what I did and be happy for me! I liked the piece and that is really all that matters to me.  I do know that when folks ask for help/insight or advise most people do their best to provide good, kind feedback that will help the OP with what they have inquired about.

You are totally correct. 

For me the title "Bragging Rights" is OK but if one is going to reply to a posting and only give praise, IMHO, there is nothing of value to be gained except to boost the OP's ego.  The question is then: Why do we all comment on post in this thread?  

Maybe this forum needs another subject for posting.  Something LIke 'Critique my Scroll Saw Work' where both positive and nagative  comments are expected and welcomed.  If one does not like to or want to receive criticism they would not post in that thread. 

You are also corrrect, I never asked for "constructive criticism", as I just assumed it would be offered if appropriate.   And although I'm happy with the work I post and like to brag as much as anyone, that dosen't mean the work I do couldn't be better.  So from now on I will add a statement for "constructive criticism" to all positng I put up.

Now I will give you some unsolicited criticism to your reply:  One long parragraph is VERY VERY difficult to read, even on a large screen like I have.