Ask Me Help Desk - Egg carving ?

I am wanting to try the art of egg carving..

Does anyone know how I can get started??
Tools I need?
Books for beginners?
The steps to learning this new art.

Eggs just fasinate me, as you have seen before, am doing beading, painting, and pysanky, now want to try the new art for me of carving, it is so fasinating..

Can't wait to hear how to get started.. thanks angie

Just for clarification here, are you asking about carving eggs out of wood or out of something else?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Just for clarification here, are you asking about carving eggs out of wood or out of something else?

I guess you would call it egg sculpturing , I want to carve a design out of the egg shells , with a Dremel tool..

Any help would be great.. thanks

Hi Ang, how are the pysanky eggs coming along?

As far as sculpting on an Ostrich or Emu egg, use as high speed Dremel tool as you can find. My instructor actually purchased a drill from her dentist so she could get the highest speed available beyond retail tools. Lay out your design on your egg first. You don't have to transfer patterns specifically but draw on the egg. Begin with the Dremel tool in the middle of an area you desire to remove then work your way to the outside of that area. Be careful to always work outside or well-ventilated room, wearing a dust mask at all times. The powder can set up in your lungs like cement. You can take just the surface of the egg off in places rather than cutting all the way through the egg and then use a paint or dye in the area you removed if so desired or cut pieces completely away. The key is to use a high speed Dremel Tool, begin in the center and work your way out rather than right on your line.

I realize you may be referring to a much more intricate design than I am posting and if I have posted these previously, I don't recall. The lamps are the most rewarding to me. I have seen some that look like lace over most of the egg. I would think one would need a much faster and more pointed tip than comes with retail Dremel's for these. Hopefully you will get other posters that can give more information regarding sculpting. These photos don't show as much as I would like of the cut places. If you look at the leaves at the top of the lamp, the whole top of the egg is gone except where the leaves come up and on the Santa basket, the basket handle is cut using a Dremel tool or dental tool. The Santa basket I cannot say was my design. I did this one in a class but the lamp was one I designed. When you get inside the egg, there may be some of the lining of the egg still attached if it has not been treated with a bleach and water solution as it should have been. Be sure to sand that out smooth. If the eggs have not been treated with bleach and water, they need to be to prevent salmonella from being present. Much Luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrebel7

Hi Ang, how are the pysanky eggs coming along?

As far as sculpting on an Ostrich or Emu egg, use as high speed Dremel tool as you can find. My instructor actually purchased a drill from her dentist so she could get the highest speed available beyond retail tools. Lay out your design on your egg first. You don't have to transfer patterns specifically but draw on the egg. Begin with the Dremel tool in the middle of an area you desire to remove then work your way to the outside of that area. Be careful to always work outside or well-ventilated room, wearing a dust mask at all times. The powder can set up in your lungs like cement. You can take just the surface of the egg off in places rather than cutting all the way through the egg and then use a paint or dye in the area you removed if so desired or cut pieces completely away. The key is to use a high speed Dremel Tool, begin in the center and work your way out rather than right on your line.

I realize you may be referring to a much more intricate design than I am posting and if I have posted these previously, I don't recall. The lamps are the most rewarding to me. I have seen some that look like lace over most of the egg. I would think one would need a much faster and more pointed tip than comes with retail Dremel's for these. Hopefully you will get other posters that can give more information regarding sculpting. These photos don't show as much as I would like of the cut places. If you look at the leaves at the top of the lamp, the whole top of the egg is gone except where the leaves come up and on the Santa basket, the basket handle is cut using a Dremel tool or dental tool. The Santa basket I cannot say was my design. I did this one in a class but the lamp was one I designed. When you get inside the egg, there may be some of the lining of the egg still attached if it has not been treated with a bleach and water solution as it should have been. Be sure to sand that out smooth. If the eggs have not been treated with bleach and water, they need to be to prevent salmonella from being present. Much Luck.

Hi jREBEL,
THE PYSANKY ARE COMING ALONG, just real slow, but am enjoying it a lot. Still painting and beading also, but I seen the egg sculptures and just had to know how to do them, they are beautiful.
Have you ever tried doing this on chicken eggs?
And where would you try and purchase a dremmel that would work to get me started?

Also , where is the best place to purchase emu and duck eggs that are not real expensive to use during my learning process?

You are so helpful, and I really appreciate everything you do.. angie

Quote:

Originally Posted by ang102863

hi jREBEL,
THE PYSANKY ARE COMING ALONG, just real slow, but am enjoying it alot. still painting and beading also, but i seen the egg sculptures and just had to know how to do them, they are beautiful.
have you ever tried doing this on chicken eggs??
and where would you try and purchase a dremmel that would work to get me started??

also , where is the best place to purchase emu and duck eggs that are not real expensive to use during my learning process??

you are so helpful, and i really appreciate everything you do..angie

I have never worked with chicken eggs, only Ostrich and Emu. Wal-Mart or any hardward store, K-Marts, Sears, etc. would carry the Dremel tools. My son got me a battery operated one as a gift. I use it for small jobs but when I am actually carving, I use the electric one. If you purchase one, make sure it is the most powerful one they have if you are going to be working on thicker shells. With chicken eggs, they are so delicate, I am not sure what you would use to carve unless the Dremel but you would have to have a tiny tip for it. Sorry I cannot help you with that.

The best way to find eggs is to check with local farms as you drive around and see emu's or ducks. Stop and ask if they ever give eggs away or if they sell them. If they say no, ask if they have any broken eggs that you might have. Sometimes if you explain what you are doing with the eggs, they will give one or two. When you get really into it, I would just go on line and find a supplier. That way the eggs are already cleaned and sanitized. If a farmer gives you eggs, it is always a nice gesture to do one of the eggs and give as a thank you. I was just visiting with a friend sometime back and they mentioned a farm not far from where we live that raises Ostriches. I had no idea so just put the word out to friends that you are looking for someone who could supply you with eggs. If you find someone with duck or emu eggs, I would ask if they have any broken eggs. That would be a great way to practice and get use to how the tools you are using work on that particular type of egg but still remember to clean them with bleach water before handling.

If you make jewelry boxes, you can buy the little hinges at your local craft store.

Hey there Ang, just some clarification on a few points. I got in touch with the instructor I had taken the class under and so am posting her reply when I asked her the solution mix of bleach to water. She may have mentioned the solution mix of water to bleach regarding another situation earlier as a friend of mine who attended her class remembers as well. The main point is to use bleach to be safe.

Yes, I use a Dremel drill with a flame
> point bit to drill a hole in the egg. Then take a stick( Like a pointed
> one that shis=k-bobs come on) and break the yoke. Then I use an
> attachment that connects to the end on a hose (cause I usually do this
> outside) and it has a very small plastic tubing that I insert up into the
> egg and turn the water on . The pressure of the water going into the egg
> will push the insides out. Then let the water run through the egg until it
> is clear. If you are going to cut the egg into a design, then after you
> have cut it, emerse it in to pure bleach and let the bleach eat out the
> membrane. Bleach will not soften an egg shell. Vineger will.. If
> you are leaving the egg whole, then pour the bleach into the egg, let it
> set for a while , then shake it out. This sanitizes the egg and there
> will be no bacteria in it. Hope this helps.

It was very kind of her to take the time to answer my question. Anyway, it is a fun art and I hope you get lots of enjoyment out of it. :)

Eggs-R-Us anyone? :D

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Comments on this post
jrebel7 agrees: Good one Craig! LOL Sounds like it, doesn't it? So... when are you going to carve and paint one?? Waiting to see your images... I would settle though for an image of a refinsihed piece of furniture you have done, at which you are fantastic!

Now, you're on a roll (egg)! :D

So, is this done like a painted bas relief, or have I missed the point? I'm fascinated, how deep can you carve an average duck egg, surprised that there is enough material to carve. How do you keep your hand steady enough?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomterm8

So, is this done like a painted bas relief, or have I missed the point? I'm fascinated, how deep can you carve an average duck egg, surprised that there is enough material to carve. How do you keep your hand steady enough?

Tomterm8, the links below show work done on several kinds of eggs.

Carved and Sculpted Egg Shells wolves,

http://greateggspectations.net/duckeggcarvings.aspx

International Egg Art Guild

I have never worked with duck eggs, only Ostrich and Emu. Hopefully someone will post here that can better answer your questions regarding duck eggs.

The first image is an emu egg, it has a music box inside and it opens to a satin lining that compliments the colors used in the painting. The second image is an Ostrich Egg. The flowers on the side are molded and glued on for effect. Did this in a class and not crazy about it. It was to be a water fountain but the cord was so heavy, I didn't like the way it looked. I just put potpourri in it. The third image is an emu egg with satin lining to hold jewelry, hinged. The edge of the flower is cut so both top and bottom show sculpting but fit together like a puzzle piece. I prefer either the lamps or just paintings on ostrich eggs on a stand. The last one is one I just painted, no carving.

Don't get me wrong here, I totally love and admire the carved eggs done by others. I doubt I have the patience for it myself but they are gorgeous.

When working with an egg, I hold the egg in one hand but prop the hand using the Dremel tool as I carve when it works. Sometimes, it is just by going slow and keeping your eye on the guiding lines you have drawn that keeps the hand steady. Hope this helps to answer your questions.

I had my pencil drawings at an art show but took a couple of my eggs an stands as centerpieces for the table in front of my display for the drawings. When we were packing up to go home, my husband, for whatever reason, had drawings in both hands and I saw him pick up an Ostrich Egg. In a moment's time that moved in slow motion, I saw the egg go up in the air and down on the cement and was in a hundred pieces. My husband looked so devastated. He is always so supportive of my art and so helpful. He started apologizing profusely. I smiled and said as I picked up the pieces, "Ah, it's ok. It's just an egg." I think even though one puts lots of hours into our work, we do have to keep perspective. :)