Owl’s, the same but different.

[FrankEV]

I converted an Image of a metal wall hanging I found on-line into a scrollable 11 x 17 pattern.  The conversion did not take much work as the hanging artwork was already very much like a scroll saw product.  The only thing I had to do was let Inkscape invert the image to produce the cutout areas in a red outline with gray fill.

The metal wall hanging was shown as Black with the contrasting image in White.  I liked the way it looked but wondered how it would look in contrasting wood colors as how we, Scrollers, often present our work. 

I decided to stack cut two 5/32” thick solid core ply panels, one Walnut and the other Birch.  The Walnut panel was then left natural (although I did darken it slightly with a quick wipe on/wipe off coat of Walnut stain) and it was affixed to 1/4” thick BB Ply backer that was left Natural.  The Birch panel was primed and painted with rattle can Gloss Spray Black and affixed to 1/4” thick BB Ply backer that was primed and painted with rattle can Gloss Spray White.  Both assembled panels were further protected with multiple coats of Clear Gloss Lacquer.

If these cutting were solid wood, no framing would have been necessary, not unlike the original metal wall hanging which is unframed.  However, to hide the plywood edges, I made narrow (1/2” wide) drop-in type frames that match the cut panels.  Walnut for the Walnut panel and Pine, primed and painted Gloss Black, for the Black panel.

Be warned, you should not let the apparent simplicity of this image fool you.  I chose to use a Pegas #1 MGT R blade to cut the pattern to insure the cut edges were sharp.  I found the cutting, with all the sharp pointy corners resulted in a LOT of time-consuming Panel spinning.  I also found it took much patience and fine touch control to follow the simple, but long, curve pattern lines accurately.  The image is a mirror image side to side, so cutting misstates would not be able to be hidden.  I think I did OK, but it did require many rest breaks to keep my eyes from getting too crossed.

If you have taken the time to read through this far, I have a BIG REQUEST.  Even if you have no comments, please reply with a simple vote for the one that you prefer.   I’ll number the pics below #1 - Walnut and #2 - Black for simplicity of voting.  I’ll let you vote a #3 if you don’t like either.

 

#1 – Walnut

 

#2 – Black

 

Yep, comments and critiques are always welcome and encouraged.

You will be able to find the pattern in “New Pattern Announcements” in Pattern Central herein.

 

[Gene Howe]

Definitely # 1. Or, most certainly # 2. 

[ChelCass]

Well a #4 (really like both) #2 stands out a bit more but #1 is beautiful as well.

[TAIrving]

Beautiful cuttings Frank.  I can see the attention to detail.  

Both are very nice, but #2, the black & white, really works for this subject and gets my vote.

My wife loves zebras and this shows me what I need to do to make a zebra cutting for her.  

[barb.j.enders]

Hubby & I both like #1.

[daveww1]

awesome job

[Greatgrandpawrichard]

Both of the cuttings are wonderful, but #1 really stands out as my favorite!
 

Dick

[preprius]

Having seen owls in thier nest in trees, I prefer the brown one.

Having seen owls in head lights, swoop packrats in the night desert. I still prefer the brown one.  But the black one definitely has the night owl concept.

Ever get that feeling someone is watching you? I did when I was 12 yrs old, I was being watched by a white owl in the desert during the day.   So why not do a white owl?  

screen shot from internet.

 

[rjweb]

frank, real nice, RJ

[Dak0ta52]

Nice, Frank. I'm partial to #1.

[Matt B]

I like #1 best. 
Asked my wife and she said to stain #1 darker. 

[heppnerguy]

Like I have stated in several replies to your work, I first only saw the brown owl and imagined that I probably would not care very much for a black and white version. However, I was really surprised when I scrolled down and saw the black and white one. It really caught my attention and I had to annualize my own reaction to it. I was      not sure if I liked it or not, but the more I stared at it, the more I did like it and I think my vote, surprisingly would have to go for #2.  It is almost haunting to me. 

Dick

heppnerguy

[wombatie]

I'm with ChelCass, #4.  I like both equally.  (sorry).  Excellent work Frank.

Marg

[Tbow388]

Love the walnut one.

[Karl S]

My vote goes for # 1

[jpburcham]

I would vote #1, but I love both of them . . . #2 is a very close second .

[JessL]

Loving that #1.

[red river]

# 2 really pops

[jerry walters]

Both are nice, but I feel I'm going against the grain, I like #2. Black and white make it stand out, but I'm not a critic. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Jerry

[Gonzo]

My vote is #1

[Timberdan]

I love cutting out owls #1 walnut all the way for me Frank .Very nice work indeed. Cutting out the sharp corners may take a bit longer to do but the final results sure worth the extra effort IMHO.

[Roberta Moreton]

#1 for me!

[kywoodmaster]

#2