Got "Outback" as out theme for this months challenge. Had a few options and went with the last piece I got from this wonderful Biggs.
As the challenge lends itself to quite a few landscape materials, I went with this one, as the colour is strong, and it has a wonderful mixture of traditional jasper with Opal and Agate interspersed.
But being me
I want to take it one step further. So my personal challenge is to utilize the material and yet still impart something that makes sense to me.
Unlike regular carving, where one tries to create something to stand out from the background. my intention here is to keep cuts shallow in order to keep the background in focus, and only then making one aware that there is more to be seen.
I think I failed with the flat side, as the face got too deep, so even if everything is properly sanded and polished it will stand out from any angle.
Pictures are taken to show carving for now.
I think side two (rounded) might fare better. Cuts are shallower and wider distributed. So head on, the tree should merge into the background.
Gotta work the next few days, so update should be ready somewhere around Monday.
Thanks for looking, Kurt
Yeah, its a pain, but on the other hand, enforces more patience in sanding, and hence a better finish in the end. 
