MC Escher - Man in the Reflecting Sphere

[CohibaCris]

This is an oldie (for me) that I took to the 07 Carving show; but I failed to post it because I'm a dork. Given that mikel called me out on it, I figured I had to share before I permanently earned the dork title. It's a Basswood block that's 16x20x 8/4 (if memory serves).

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Thanks for looking!
CohibaCris
​

 

[MikeL]

There it is! :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[farmerbw]

Very cool indeed bro, thanks for sharing. :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

How long did that take you? Power, hand, or both?

Brian.

 

[CarvedTones]

Excellent. So is that a repro of the original or a self portrait?

 

[CohibaCris]

Well I didn't want to scare anyone, so original it was!
Trying to visualize how to pull that drawing up from the 2d to 3d was tough, but I think it turned out OK...

 

[Trent Mason]

VERY nice work Cris! :notworthy:

We have one of MC Esher's pictures in our house. Truely impressive art and a great carving! :icon_thum

 

[PeteM]

Trying to visualize how to pull that drawing up from the 2d to 3d was tough, but I think it turned out OK...

Two understatements in one sentence!
Both the rendition and carving are excellent! :icon_thum

pete

 

[Woodchuck]

Excellent carving. I really like it. Thanks for showing.

Chuck

 

[CohibaCris]

Very cool indeed bro, thanks for sharing. :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

How long did that take you? Power, hand, or both?

Brian.

Well, this is one of those things that sounds worse that is was:
It was all done by hand because I am a fool/masochist (or b/c I was scared I'll ruin something) and it took on the order of 350-400 hrs. Those were probably half due to recarving the details over and over - there are no freakish Escher carvings to go off of, so it was all gut feel and Paul Rolfe (teacher/mentor) shaking his head in that all-too disapproving way...
Still, it was a TON of fun, and if I had the chance I'd sell it just to do another.

Thanks for all your comments - they are gracious and I'm grateful

 

[PChristy]

Very nice job - you have alot of patients - :icon_thum

 

[kirkpj01]

Pretty cool.... he has always been one of my favorites... nice interpretation....

 

[TracyP]

Nice!!

 

[dkeller_nc]

Cris - Curious, I saw this in a completed-carving state, but never got a chance to ask what you finished it with (laquer? nothing?).

David

 

[CohibaCris]

Cris - Curious, I saw this in a completed-carving state, but never got a chance to ask what you finished it with (laquer? nothing?).

David

Hey there, David; it was a Deft lacquer thinned 50% brush coat followed by 2 spray coats. The Basswood was quite thirsty. I elected for the can after realizing I would never get into all those nooks and crannies with a brush (short of dipping it)