Raging Elephant

[Al W]

Good Day,

I cut this from a piece of oak that was headed for the burn pile.  Swiped it from the neighbor (with permission), cut it down, planed it to 1/2 inch, and worked on it for a couple of months.  This was the project to work on when nothing else was going on, and was NOT a really high priority. 

The background is not permanent, just haven't decided what to do with the cutting from here, so I shall open it up for suggestions....

Thanks for taking a look and have a decent day.

Al

[Judy Hunter]

Oh Wow! that is  very nice!!! Background? anything but what you have there 

[countryscroller]

Great work! I kinda like the background and it is different from a usual black one on most portraits. Maybe put it in a frame and the background is fine.

[DWSudekum]

Very nice cutting.  Would consider a steel gray backgound perhaps.  Thanks for sharing this with us.


DW

[Billy in Va]

Have to go with Judy on this one. That background kinda takes the rage out of the elephant.

[Russ C]

Looks fantastic Al, nice work. Thanks for sharing. 

[newfie]

cool piece thanks for sharing

[Intarsia92]

Very nice, love the background color.

[Merlin]

Nice cutting, hate the b/ground 
For that piece of art I wood have cut it in an oval shape and round over the edge, but hey that's me and I don't no that much 

***Merlin***

[Dan26]

Again, nice cutting Al. I would also agree on a gray background. For the edges, cut an irregular oval and beat it with the edge of a belt sander or spindle sander. Then use a torch to burn the edges. It will kind of frame itself.

[Becky]

I also thought of a gray background.  I guess we're all thinking of elephants.  You could also use a backer board if you wanted and paint it different colors for different areas of the picture - gray for elephant, green for the bushes, brown for the deer-thingies.

Nice job on the cutting, whatever you do with the background.

[wombatie]

Great cutting Al but sorry not a fan of the background.  I agree Becky maybe different colors if color is what you want.

Marg

[frankorona]

Beautiful work, looks great, thanks for sharing

[Al W]

Okay, you win, the green goes!  It was a piece of contrasting colored paper I had to help show the cutting.  I never intended for it to remain in place (not even attached).

I really like the idea of a gray background, again with the concept of the elephant.  Now to find some gray.

The idea of the oval intrigues me Dan.  Would you be willing to expound a bit on what you mean by an irregular oval, and beating with a sander?  I have a torch and like that idea as well.

Thanks for all the input folks.

Al

[EIEIO]

Take a look in Hobby Lobby (or on-line) for "Canson" art paper. They sell paper used for colored pencil art that comes in a bunch of unusual colors and textures. You might find a gray that looks like an elephant hide.