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DonSimpson — Flameblock
Published: 2011-08-12 06:08:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 6665; Favourites: 135; Downloads: 115
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Description
Abstract carving of a block of cocobolo burl wood, with a section of the sapwood. Four and three-eights inches high. All four sides are shown, set at angles, and with one scan repeated at both ends, to show the way the carving design transitions around the edges. Many of the holes connect with each other inside the block. A set of flat-on views is here: donsimpson.deviantart.com/art/...The intense, variegated red is the natural color of the wood at the heart of the tree; the sapwood (the layer just under the bark) is shades of brown, and there is a void in it at the upper edge of the block where the bark was removed. I left the void area uncarved, as it has a nice, subtle texture.
UPDATE: The description has been re-written due to discussion in the comments, and on-line research, about the wood used.
UPDATE: This piece has been featured on Propnomicon, a Lovecraft mythos prop blog, on October 21, 2011 propnomicon.blogspot.com/2011/...
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Comments: 50
Reminds me of both Henry Moore and Uzumaki, and I like both! Really nice work!
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I am answering this in my reply to your note.
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Don, I love all of your works! ♥
I always liked bones/skulls/wood, just natural stuff
I wish I could make such carvings too, they look so mystical.
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I'm delighted that you like my work.
You can learn carving. And if you like the mystical, it will show in your work.
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Mind blowing. You have a true gift for improving upon the natural beauty of the materials you use.
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Thank you. 
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I wish I had the skill to do what you do. Wonderful!
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Thank you. Ah, the skills I wish I had....
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Awesome! You get such lively, flowing contours. Best use of a burl I've seen!
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Thank you. Burl wood is usually made into simple shapes to show off the grain, so I've done something weird here.
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Oh I just read you used bees wax as a finish, nice! Heard of that too!
This is incredible looking...
What would you say is easier? Carving bone/horn or carving wood?
And where to get a nice piece of wood to carve?
Regards; a big fan of yours
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There are a lot of different kinds of wood, some are amazingly hard. I have good power tools, so there's not a lot of difference in the physical effort needed for wood, bone, or horn, or the relatively softer kinds of stone (and stones, of course, have an even greater range of hardness than kinds of wood). I'd recommend wood. I don't have a standard source of wood. I'm working mostly with garage sale finds and stuff found in the woods and pieces people give me. There is a store not too far from me that has occasional trims of tropical hardwoods sold by the pound, and I've gotten a few wood scraps there.
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Oh okay, thank you very much!
Well I asked about the difference between wood and bone, because I thought bone would sliver (/split) easier then wood.
And to have that kind of a source for wood is lucky!
Well I have a forest nearby but I didn't thought about going there and take something that is lying around there...
Because I thought those pieces would be too brittle to carve them.
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In my experience, which is limited, bone is indeed a bit more brittle than wood, just as stone is; and if bone gets old and dried out, it can sometimes be a lot more brittle. Dead wood left out in nature may be damaged by harsh weather or attacked by insects or bacteria, and wood kept in better conditions can still split if dries out unevenly. I've gotten a feel for the materials I use, by working with them a lot; it's not perfect, but it's pretty good; and it's about all I have in the way of knowledge. I'm sorry I don't have better advice for you.
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Oh you don't have to feel sorry at all!
Thank you very much for everything, alas; I learned a tiny bit more about carving various materials.
It's one of the many things I do and I wont learn faster if I wont concentrate on it.
But your tips and advice helps!
Thank you for that!
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Looks like carving a piece like this could have a calming effect, letting it go where it flows.
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Yes, it has that effect. One of my favorite things about art.
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Your title has affected me overmuch- I actually want to set this on fire now...
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Please don't. Maybe you could simulate that with Photoshop.
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Le Gasp, could I really? Because that'd be super great!
I'll credit and link back to you of course, but is there anything else you'd like me to do- any stipulations you have for using your work?
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Well, you've got permission, and you're going to give credit, and I assume you'll let me know if you publish it somewhere I won't see it automatically. Maybe you could send me a copy of the Photoshop file, with all the layers and such. This is _not_ a requirement for permission, just a request prompted by my curiosity, and I wouldn't do anything with a file containing your work without your permission.
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Wonderful!
My plan is to animate it...hopefully all my skills haven't gone completely to pot after highschool. Lucky for me some of the school computers have photoshop and such installed...that's what my tuition goes for after all.
I want to try and get it done by the end of the month- before the full time school rush.
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It will be. 
Thanks again!
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Master Simpson, your work never ceases to amaze me : )
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On seeing this comment I did some reading about cocobolo and looked at the image search results, and this might indeed be cocobolo. I'm familiar with some of the ebonies, and with padauk and purpleheart, and some of the less exotic woods, like walnut and olive, but I do most of my carving on found wood pieces, and have never properly studied the subject.
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Cocobolo will have a very distinct sharp odor when cut, bright orange dust, and usually an almost oily surface which is best glued with epoxy.
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Odor, yes, one I think of as somewhat cinnamony. And bright orange dust which is very clingy, as though slightly damp, therefore perhaps oily. I've never tried to glue it, and this may be the only piece I have.
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Definitely cocobolo (or some ebony I've never heard of). My favorite wood, after cherry and boxwood.
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Cocobolo then.
I haven't tried cherry or boxwood, though I've at least heard of them.
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This is amazing. Did you use any kind of finish for the wood?
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My usual beeswax blend, which brings out the natural color.
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Interesting. I've been searching for a good finish for my projects I've been working on {walking staves, wands, other woden projects.} But haven't really setlled down on anything yet.
Probably be trying tung oil next.
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I'd like to know how the tung oil finish turns out.
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These are simply amazing. So mystical looking.
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I really love this piece too, the swirling details you've done are amazing and mesh so well with the wood.
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