Theatrical carving

[John Fenna]

I was asked to produce a carved wooden figure as a prop for our theartres next performance of "The Exorscism" (no not the Exorcist!)and the brief was
"'a small African carved figure, a woman giving birth to a child. It is ugly, distorted, both woman and emerging child have agonized expressions on their faces"

This is what I managed to produce from 4 bits of fencepost PVAed together, using (amongst other tools and a lot of swearing and lusting after propper carving chisles) -a GFB SFA, mora knives (various), folding saw and sand paper on a Dremel clone.
The Pine was stained with my homemade Oak-gall stain and finished with teak oil.
She measures aprox 8"x 8" x8" max.
This chic hit every branch as she fell out of the ugly tree.....

She ugly - dam - she UGLY :yikes:- but I love her!

 

[Tilia]

whoa she really ugly

but still nice work carving, i must have a lot of practice before i come close

 

[Toddy]

Having been through natural childbirth, trust me on this, it's not aesthetically beautiful It's messy, it's sore, it's emotional, it's visceral, it's gutteral.....and you're little carving isn't ugly it's really kind of beautiful in it's extremis.

atb,
Mary

 

[Indoorsout]

That is really excellent carving! I really don't think she's ugly either, just in a lot of pain

 

[sasquatch]

I'd say you certainly managed to capture the situation! Nice work John.

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

I like that

 

[Barn Owl]

I don't see it as ugly either and it certainly meets the brief.

 

[Tengu]

Ugly yes

supernaturally ugly, no....not as some authentic ethnic carvings I have seen

its a nice bit of work anyway

 

[Shewie]

Ooh I can feel her pain, nicely done John

 

[morch]

I must partially disagree with Toddy, having also been through natural childbirth myself, I thought the whole thing was beautiful, aesthetically, viscerally and emotionally, as is your carving John, I love it.

Dave

 

[Shewie]

I must partially disagree with Toddy, having also been through natural childbirth myself, I thought the whole thing was beautiful, aesthetically, viscerally and emotionally

Dave

 

[John Fenna]

Cheers folks - I hope the director likes it too!

 

[Toddy]

Response to Dave

You were the other side of matters, weren't you ?
HWMBLT was chuffed to bits with his sons too

Actually there's a whole psychological issue over menfolks being there while their women are giving birth. It seems that a fair proportion of men are so traumatised at seeing the ladies in such a visceral way, that it totally kills any future libido......a bit like Elvis, apparantly.

cheers,
M

 

[launditch1]

Nice!Sort of reminds me of Sheela-na-gig...

 

[Tjurved]

Haha oh god that is a great piece!

 

[dwolfhunter]

Sheela na gig...yeah. Deffo.

 

[Retired Member southey]

That's me after five pints of the black stuff!!, great work John, it's a very emotional piece indeed.

 

[Tengu]

Childbirth is ghastly and should only ever be done by men.

(What do you mean? men are too sensible to even contemplate trying it??)

 

[John Fenna]

Childbirth is ghastly and should only ever be done by men.

(What do you mean? men are too sensible to even contemplate trying it??)

Yup - I determined never to breed, and stuck to this descissionn!

 

[SimonM]

Wow...that looks like it might be, every so slightly, uncomfortable.

Cracking job on the carving too.

Simon