Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts: Creating a custom building portrait

Creating a custom building portrait
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Karl Taylor on 06/25/2012 00:26:00
 
A friend commissioned me to cut a fretwork portrait of the Biltmore House in
Asheville, N.C. I used her photo to create the pattern and portrait of the
famous mansion.
Since then I have finished a few more house projects. Most of the homes were
easy to design compared to the Biltmore House.
Of course, the more floors, features, and landscaping a house has, the more
complex the pattern will be. I usually eliminate trees and other landscaping
elements because they distract from the house. As you master this technique,
experiment with adding a tree to the side of the house to add character to the
project.
You can also add a name and address to the portrait. Choose a font that accents
the design of the house—a comic sans font will not work with a Spanish-style
house, and a Gothic font will not work with a colonial-style house.
I use a commercial computer program such as CorelDraw or Photoshop, or a free
program such as Gimp or Inkscape. But, it’s also possible to create a pattern
using a pencil, paper, and ruler.
To use a paper and pencil, print a large photograph of the building and tape it
to a flat surface. Attach thin tracing paper over the photo. I use a ruler and
sharp pencil to trace the lines of the house; be careful not to puncture the
tracing paper with the pencil.
To use a computer program, open the photo in the software and use the pencil or
line-drawing tools like a pencil.
MATERIALS & TOOLS:
For computer-generated pattern:
* Drawing software, such as CorelDraw, Photoshop, Gimp, or Inkscape
For hand-drawn pattern:
* Tracing paper or onionskin paper (optional)
* Pencil
* Tape
* Drawing board
* Compass
* Ruler
* French curve set
For all projects:
* Plywood, 1/8" (3mm)-thick: portrait and backer, 2 each sized to the pattern
* Blades: #2 or #2 reverse-tooth spiral blades
* Drill and bits: assorted small bits
* Danish oil
* Frame
(ssw48)