Netsuke Tutorial Page 3

I rather liked this approach, since the model is nearly indestructible. I also discovered it has the advantage of being carvable, so as I "lived" with the model for awhile, the little changes that always become apparent can be made. You can also add more unhardened clay and bake the whole thing again. I noticed on my model that there were a few things that needed changing. Some I'll simply make to the netsuke as I carve it, but some I made by carving away the clay of the model. For instance, the large boulder to the left of the sockeye salmon was simply too large and gave the netsuke a clunky look. Also, I felt there were too many rocks on the bottom of the netsuke, so I carved away the ones I didn't want using my rotary grinder. I didn't like the looks of the left salmon's tail (it twists to the left), so in the finished piece I'll carve the tail twisted the other way. Here's the revised model, and (mostly!) in the conformation I'll carve the netsuke in.

I've noticed the right pectoral fin on the right hand salmon looks bad, so I'll have to allow for the rock it rests on to stick farther out so the fin can stick out from the fish's body in a nice sweeping curve. Rather than add on more clay and rebake, I'll just remember to leave space during carving. Living dangerously can be so exhilarating! I've also reduced the size of the large boulder and excavated under, adding a crayfish. Notice I've also severely reduced the number and sizes of the rocks underneath the model. I've left lots of room in between in order to add lots of little salmon eggs (made of pink and red coral) at one of the last stages in carving.

	Carving the Spawning Sockeyes Netsuke
I rather liked this approach, since the model is nearly indestructible. I also discovered it has the advantage of being carvable, so as I "lived" with the model for awhile, the little changes that always become apparent can be made. You can also add more unhardened clay and bake the whole thing again. I noticed on my model that there were a few things that needed changing. Some I'll simply make to the netsuke as I carve it, but some I made by carving away the clay of the model. For instance, the large boulder to the left of the sockeye salmon was simply too large and gave the netsuke a clunky look. Also, I felt there were too many rocks on the bottom of the netsuke, so I carved away the ones I didn't want using my rotary grinder. I didn't like the looks of the left salmon's tail (it twists to the left), so in the finished piece I'll carve the tail twisted the other way. Here's the revised model, and (mostly!) in the conformation I'll carve the netsuke in. I've noticed the right pectoral fin on the right hand salmon looks bad, so I'll have to allow for the rock it rests on to stick farther out so the fin can stick out from the fish's body in a nice sweeping curve. Rather than add on more clay and rebake, I'll just remember to leave space during carving. Living dangerously can be so exhilarating! I've also reduced the size of the large boulder and excavated under, adding a crayfish. Notice I've also severely reduced the number and sizes of the rocks underneath the model. I've left lots of room in between in order to add lots of little salmon eggs (made of pink and red coral) at one of the last stages in carving.
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