Poor Willy! He doesn't look happy at all. Maybe the slots down at the Turtle Stop Casino didn't pay off like he thought. Whatever, this has the makings of a nice looking piece. It's about 15" tall not counting the feather. He'll hopefully be joined by his mate which I plan on starting this afternoon. If things work out she will have Willy's offspring strapped to her back on a cradleboard.
Took me a while to get him finally finished as we've been doing fence work. I've done figures similar to this one several times before but this time I tried a headband. I carved it out of tupelo, bent it to shape and then attached it. I like it! Woodcarving, unlike working in clay to be cast into bronze, has one major drawback or hurdle we have to deal with and that's making things look as they really are with out having the necessary supporting structure overpower the detail. In this instance the headband would have been much to fragile if I tried to carve it as it appears. The way I did it it is extremely strong and will never break unless someone drops him on his head or tries to pick it off. The back feather is not permanently attached for that very reason. People like to touch things so when we carve we have to or should take that into consideration.
To make the headband I bent one circle of tupelo and glued it. To add additional strength to the bond I glued a wood rosette to the junction. I then did another layer of tupelo for the beaded strip and glued it on. This doubel layer allowed me to do some burn detail for the beading that I otherwise couldn't do as the strip would break on the burn lines. I found that out the hard way.
Anyway, hope you like him.
hi lynn, my first comments. i didn know how to enter comments i still dont know for sure. i love your site. i have carved several of your carvings. the the huron, the cook with fire pit, the renegade, and wily the sad indian,the horse head. i live in tennessee. i would love to visit some day.Thanks glyn
ReplyDeleteThanks Glyn. Would love to see photos of the projects you did. I'd suggest you consider joining the Woodcarving Illustrated Carvers Forum at http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/
ReplyDeleteIt's a great place to exchange ideas and photos of your work.
Thanks again for your interest in my carvings. Best regards. Lynn
Lynn, Your carvings are unbeliveable. I've been carving now for about 4 years and I think I'm pretty good. I just hope that my stuff is never sitting next to yours at a show. I won't have a chance.
ReplyDeleteLookin' forward to retirement and carving full time. Do you make a decent buck with your carvings?
Tom
Tom. Thanks for your comment. While I'm not really into carving to make much from it other than the joy of actually doing it I do manage to make enough to keep me in tools and pay for my shop and pickup. As you probably know, woodcarving is frowned on my the socalled art community so about the only way to make any real money is by teaching seminars. That has never really held much interest to me so I just plod along, enjoying being able to do what I want when I want. Can't ask for more than that!
ReplyDeleteGreat, great, great all of your carvings are just great. I was wondering if you carve most of your heads from the same pattern, like the one you gave for the cook?
ReplyDeleteIf so, could you give us a close-up shot of the front and side of Willy Lone Eagles head, I'd like to give his head a try. I don't know what's involved in doing this but I hope it's not to much trouble. How'd you make the band on his head? Keep the carvings coming I really enjoy your site.
Deb
Deb....I have generic side profile patterns I use for both Cowboys and Native Americans. Both are on this site as the Chuck Wagon Cook and the Indian in the Snow.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the actual features, they just appear as I carve the head. Sometimes I'll sketch out an expression or work from a photo but most times it just happens as it did in this case.
Lynn
ReplyDeletehave not posted for a while been extra busy.
i like willy as i do all your carvings,i look forward to all your postings,and i check your blog regularly.
Frank
Lynn,
ReplyDeleteA fantastic paint job on an already fantastic carving! When looking at just plain wood, the painting really makes the carving come to life and whimsical.
Todd in KC
Lynn, anothr excellent carving. Not being critical but was mildly surprised that on the back of the robe, the feathers were not carved but painted. Excellent painting I might add. Thanks for allowing us to view one of your expertly carved and painted caracatures.
ReplyDeleteKenny