❓ What chips do I remove ❓

When you're carving a project on your own, without any shading on the pattern or a sample to go by, you have to decide which chips to remove and what part of the pattern to leave uncarved.

So, how do you decide?

When making this decision, keep the following in mind.

1. Don't over carve the pattern. 

Leave parts of the pattern uncarved.

Doing this creates contrast between the negative portion of the design (carved recesses) and the positive areas (uncarved surface). Positive spaces gives the viewer a place to focus their gaze - On the chip carved pattern!

If the ENTIRE pattern is carved, there's no special place to look!

This chip carved plate was carved with good technique and little if any chip out. There are some small positive areas (purple circles) that separate the rings. But apart from that, everything else is carved and the entire carving sort of blurs together. More positive, uncarved areas would make this carving more attractive and distinctive, drawing in the viewer's attention.

2. Remove different size chips.

If all chips are close to the same size, no distinction is made and the finished carving will look very uniform and plain. Carving some small, medium and large chips adds nice variety, adds interest and keeps the viewer's eye moving around the carving. 

Look back at the plate above and then take a look at this carving...

The negative chips have nice variety from small to large. Do you notice how your eye is drawn to the cross and not to a series of same size chips in the background? Also, this pattern was not over carved because the intent was to draw attention to the cross, the positive image. I think this carver succeeded with this piece.

3. Remember, shadows create interest.

Ever chip removed (negative) creates a shadow. Typical Swiss style chip carving creates varying shadows depending on the size of each chip.

Different size chips = Different shadows

Old World Style chip carving creates different shadows by changing the cutting angle on one or more sides of each chip.

Tip ​​​1. Don't over carve the pattern. 
                            + PLUS +
Tip 2. Remove different size chips.
                        = EQUALS =
Tip 3. INTERESTING SHADOWS

Look at the pattern for this month to see how this formula works.

#1 Look at the positive areas (uncarved) and how they stand out.
You'd never notice the small hearts around the rosette if they were carved or the leaf shapes separating the 6-point rosette if several chips were removed in this space. 
+
#2 The chips vary in size from small chips to outline the hearts to large bold chips in the rosette and floral border.
=
INTERESTING SHADOWS! The visual interest created by shadows is what brings it all together.

I hope this helps you know how to decide What Chips To Remove! 

What do you think about this carving?
Did he over carve it?
Did he make it visually appealing and interesting? 

I've posted this in the Community for you to comment and discuss.

Here's how this plate was carved - in under one minute ❤️
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