Arrrga! Second Edit

[FrankEV]

I don’t know if it is just me or if there are others like me out there?  I get bored very easily so I’m always looking to find a “something different” subject to develop into a themed collection of Art Panel cuttings.   I have done Birds, Flowers, Felines, Horses, and many others.  So why not Pirates?

While searching through images on-line I ran across an image of a B&W drawing of Mary Read who was an English female pirate in late 1600.  The story of her life intrigued me.  Most of her life she pretended to be a man using the name Mark Read.

Quite awhile ago I had made a special gift cutting of Castlevaina Alucard, for my Grandson which has gotten rave reviews from his friends.  The presentation was a full head-to-toe cutting of the character.  Looking at the image of Mary Read, I thought I might be able to convert it into a scrollable image not unlike the cutting I had done for my Grandson. 

I don’t pretend to be a wizard at creating scrollable patterns from an image, but, using Inkscape’s “trace bitmap” function and a lot of cleanup work, I was able to make, what I think is, a reasonable scrollable pattern.  However, the pattern is not for the faint-of-heart as there are a lot of very small delicate details areas requiring the use of very small blades.  I used Pegas #2/0 Spiral blades, but some areas might have been done better with regular straight # 2/0 blades.

Of course, one piece does not make a collection.  So, I looked further and found another image, this time a color piece, of Anne Boney who was Irish, and like Mary, a female pirate of the same era. 

I used the same process to convert the image into a scrollable pattern, but this image proved to be more challenging as Inkscape has more trouble developing the subject lines where color shading is part of the image.  I had to do a lot more manual tracing to develop the pattern.  Although, not as many actual “holes” as the Mary Read Pattern, this pattern also has a lot of areas of small delicate details.  Again, I used Pegas #2/0 Spiral blades.

I think both 11” x 17” patterns work as simple B&W cuttings, but, as you all know, I like to add color to my cuttings.  Although the Mary Read image was B&W, looking at the multitude of pirate images, I was able to add color which seems appropriate.  I use the Anne Boney color image for a guide to the colors I used on the cutting…of course using a lot of artist discretion.

Since I use Artist Acrylic Paints, I am now using Clear Gloss Spray Polycrylic’s which, like the paints is water based, as a protective coating after panel assembly.  And like usual, the Frames are 1 3/4” wide Poplar primed and painted with Glidden Spray Gloss Black.

I will post PDF’s of these patterns in the New Pattern Announcement section.

 

 

 

Comments and critiques always welcome.

PS: Yes, I'm aware the words Anne Boney is not properly Right Justified.  I was too far into cutting before I noticed it.  The pattern has been corrected along with a few more bridges that have been added I had found was needed as I cut the piece. 

EDIT:  It was pointed out to me the spelling "Boney"  should be "Bonny".   Looks like I need to recut this pattern.

EDIT 03/09/23:  Recut the corrected pattern and replaced pic herein of Anne Bonny.  Things went a little better the seconded time around.

Edited March 9, 2023 by FrankEV
Replaced Picture

[daveww1]

awesome work

[Norm Fengstad]

I took print  thanks

[barb.j.enders]

Again a couple of stunning pieces Frank.  Thanks, also, for the full description of how and why.

[Scrappile]

Nice, work.  I like the colors and could I say with the exposure you gave them I would not mistake them for males.

[preprius]

Interesting discovery for something different.   Very impressed with both the "different" selection and the execution. To me finding something new is the hard part. 

I like the 2nd one more.  It shows action.  The long boots are twisted a bit and indicates she is changing direction.

 

Me.

Mark Eason

[flarud]

Very nice!  I like the top one a bit better. 

[rjweb]

Excellent cutting, RJ 

[wombatie]

A unique idea.  You did an excellent job on both.  10/10 for you Sir.

Marg

[rdatelle]

Those are awesome. Love the colors you used.