My 1st Ever.....

[Rivari]

I finally created and cut my own pattern, after seeing all the new work being posted I figured it was time to give pattern making a shot. I am overall pleased but I think I would have done somethings different. Tell me what you think, pointers are always welcome.

BTW, this is a pattern created from a picture of my oldest daughter.

[workin for wood]

I don't know anything about portraits. It looks like her to me. Comparing it to others I've seen, I think the wood looks too thick...what is it anyhow? My guess is white ash or maybe elm.
Needs a trim on the left so that she is more centered in the wood. Nice job on the first time pattern making. I can't imagine making portraits or fret patterns to be an easy job.

[Daryl185]

Todd its a wonderful 1st portait and looks great to me keep up the great work

[CanadianScroller]

Nice job Todd.

Did you use spirals for that?
I like the eyes. You have done a good job with bridges too.

Glad to see you psoting and scrolling again!

[Minnesota scroller]

Definitely looks like a young lady to me. I am far from being an expert and have only done a few myself, but personally, I think less is better at times. In other words, removing less wood and just giving the hint of detail in some areas may look a little better. When I get to a point where I'm not quite sure what would look better, I go to the website for Kerry's World and take a look as the various ones he has done. He has quite a gallery and they are very handy for reference. For instance, I just designed a pattern for a customer's granddaughter. She was very pleased except for the mouth. I had to agree with her. The mouth just didn't look real good. So I went to Kerry's website and looked at a couple similar subjects and figured out what would look the best. Kerry knows I do it and doesn't mind.

But, for a first attempt, you done good. Practice makes close to perfect and having something to compare to really helps too. Just my 3c worth.

[Back2Jake]

Well Done

Todd, let me start by saying you did a wonderful job for the first time! Actually you would be fine to leave it as is, however, if you really want to know what I'd change it would be the following.

Instead of cutting out all around her nose, I would have "shadowed' the one side with the open cuts and perhaps done some "veining" to distinguish the rest of her nose.

You did a wonderful job on the mouth and eyes. These are areas of difficulty for many to capture.

Her hair could also have used some lines or viening versus all the open cuts. But as I mentioned, it is very well done. You captured a likeness and I prefer to see more wood removed, and more open cuts on the portraits than all the veining or fine lines.

Look forward to seeing you're progression on the portraits!

(Pat on the back)

Take care
Toni

[Mackem]

hey todd,if your daughter looks anything like her portrait then she is one beautiful looking young girl, you've certainly done her proud. well done.

kevin

[Grizz]

Hey Todd,

This looks good, but to really be able to say how good you did it would be good to see the original. I've been working on portraits a little more serious for about 1 year now. I'm getting better, but I've noticed that there are some portraits that just work out great and then others I just can't do for the life of me.

Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect!

[utbva]

Nice work Todd.

I am like you in just starting to make portraits. I don't claim to be an artist, so I have a hard time trying to decide which lines to use in a photo or which ones to leave out, wheather to make veining cuts or to make big cutouts. Mostly it comes down to practice, observing what others have done and then making a personal choice. In the end, the person the work was done for will appreciate it more than we can know for the effort and care that was put in to the work.

[Rolf]

Todd,

It would be interesting to see the photo that you used to create the pattern. That way it would be easier for some of the portrait wizzards to give you pointers on how to improve or change your final cut.

I am not one of those wizzards.

I like what you have done but I like more veining and shadows.

[navysawer]

Nicely done Todd. Having recently completing my first portrait, designing your own patterns takes things to a new level. Feels pretty good though doesn't it. I have to agree with Bill. I too am not by any means artistic, but this is definitely an artform in itself.

[Jediscroller]

Looks like ya did a great job with it Todd! I agree, seeing the original photo would help with critiques.

[chrispuzzle]

I like it, looks good to me. I think you've caught a face that looks alive and expressive, must be very hard to plan for that. Some portraits look kind of unemotional even if they are good likenesses, but this is very much alive.

Chris

[SharonW0111]

Nice job on your first try todd--but I have to agtree with Toni on the nose and hair.Next time don't cut out so much and just use veins . Some wood on the nose would be better also- and for petes sake don't take offence on the advice but on portraits a good one is one that has most of the wood left intact and yet shows the image as well- I never was a big fan of portrates that have a lot of woold removed- some it works okay for but most of them don't. but check out my little girl in the gallery under my name ( on of my first pics I posted) and you can see what I mean on the veining .
But I love ya anyway-
and -- is this the little one that likes to scroll?
Sharon

[Rivari]

Here is the original photo and the finished piece again. I agree with what many of you had said about the negative space around the nose, I also thought around the neck was missing something. If you look at the original photo her hands are in there and I won't even begin to guess how to draw hands that end up looking like hands when I am done.

Back to the drawing board.