Week #30: Studying the masters... in wood.

 

mastercarver sketchpage studies

mastercarver sketchpage studie#2

Whenever I begin a body of work, I always like to study my subject so that the artwork has a solid foundation in whatever it represents. I always turn to the master artists from the past who have successfully created something that lends authority to what I am trying to accomplish. In that way I give homage to the inspiration and feel I venture forward in the similiar direction as what they began- taking a good idea in a new direction.                                     Lately it has been looking toward the wood carvers from 100 years ago or more to appreciate thier sense of design. "The painter who draws by practice and judgement of the eye without the use of reason is like the mirror which reproduces within itself all the objects which are set opposite to it without knowledge of the same." (Leonardo da Vinci)