Bitter Creek Newcomb - Part 1

I don't know if you've ever heard of George "Bitter Creek" Newcomb. He was a outlaw who rode with the Doolin Gang and was eventually gunned down by his sweetheart's brothers. The Doolins and Bitter Creek conducted most of their "business" out in what was called "No Mans Land" in the unassigned lands of western Oklahoma. Theres a great movie starring Randolph Scott titled "The Doolins of Oklahoma" in which John Ireland plays Newcomb.

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Each time we drive to Tulsa via Adair, Oklahoma, a town robbed by the Dalton Gang, we cross a very small little stream called Bitter Creek. While it is in no way the origin of Newcomb's nickname it always reminds me of him so, as we just crossed over it a few days ago I thought it about time I commemorated him with a carving even though it might be a small one.

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As my wrist is not up to doing a full figure yet and as I have a number of heads laying around the workbench, I thought I'd use one of those and just do the lower half of a bust and a hat. Hopefully I can manage that. As you can see by the photos in the associated album I started out with a rough pencil sketch. I did the lower part a little different just to be contrary but I think when it's finished you'll agree that it sure makes the piece look good. Once laid out on the wood I did as much whittling with the bandsaw as I could to save my poor wrist. This first part just takes us up to the initial roughing out. In the next installment we'll do the details and then the hat.

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As always your comments are welcome. Oh.....and here is poor old Bitter Creek laid out with his equally unfortunte buddy Charlie Pierce.