Our Mom

Our Mom passed in her sleep early this morning.  Life and it's cares are behind her now, and she's back with Dad, her eldest son and all the friends that have passed before her.  It's a sad day Out West.

Our Mother
------------------
You can only have one mother
Patient kind and true;
No other friend in all the world,
Will be the same to you.

When other friends forsake you,
To mother you will return,
For all her loving kindness,
She asks nothing in return.

As we look upon her picture,
Sweet memories we recall,
Of a face so full of sunshine,
And a smile for one and all.

Sweet Jesus, take this message,
to our dear Mother up above;
Tell her how we miss her,
and give her all our love. 

Just A Note!

Due to a serious illness in the family, my Mother, future posts will be put on hold for  a while.  Appreciate your understanding.

Sour Note Charlie III

I've done this figure a number of times and this is another version of him.  I think this one looks more dejected than the others which is good.  Still a few details to add....broken strings, bullet holes, etc.  The music sheet is metal and will be a challenge in itself to paint.  I'm thinking "Cowboy's Lament" for the title.  This one will probably not hang around long once completed so I think I'll enjoy him a while before letting him go for his next appearance.

More photos in the Gallery and your comments are always welcome.

The Top Hand - Bust

Here's one I did the other day.  It's a good sized piece when compared to the normal busts....standing about 15" with the base.  It's certainly no easier to carve a larger piece but it gives you the opportunity to expand the details a little in both carving and painting.  Most importantly, it raises your piece to a different level than what is normally seen and that's what I'm after.  The hat is the type worn in the northwestern areas of cowboy country.

Just the one photo so far.  Hope you like him and your comments are always welcome.

The Coal Miner - Part 12 - The Body

I put the pattern for the profile of this guy in the Gallery album.

The Coal Miner - Part 11 - Priming the Hat

In this one we prime the hat and look forward to starting the body.

The Coal Miner - Part 9 - The Lamp

Part 9-The Lamp from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

Attachments - Legal or Illegal?

Slowmover brought up an excellent question as a comment on the Part 8 video.  Here it is along with my views on the matter:

Neat technique.....nobody could ever carve a bill that thin, and it is looking so natural. I want to ask you if you ever run into resistance at shows due to the metal and other material attachments and adornments on your carvings. We have a contest every two months at our club, and it was last weekend. I took in a cowboy that I had used low dome tacks to make conchos around his hat band..looked really good to me. The first words out of the mouth of one of the old timers in the club were "You can't put that in the show (meaning this fall, our big show) it has metal on it". Not wanting to argue or any controversy at a meeting I just smiled and said Don't it look pretty? (as an aside, it took first in the intermediate category, voted on by members present at the meeting) I sure like the look that the tacks, reins on horses, etc give, but really don't want a fight at our show this fall. Our rules just say made of wood...so technically they have a point. I just wondered how much push you get at the big shows.

To put it bluntly, I couldn't care less about what others might think about what might be considered allowed or not allowed.  I look at my efforts as 'sculpture' not necessarily woodcarvings. Wood is just one of the mediums I use.  Granted, it might be the main one but it will never be the only one.  If I can come up with a way to enhance the look that I'm after that might be made from materials other than wood I'll certainly check it out to see if it will work.   As for my entering my pieces into competition I've never had any problems.  Quite the contrary, they must be considered acceptable as they've managed to win their share of awards against the stiffest competitors.  That makes me feel especially good as the judges recognize that pushing the envelope is not something we should shy away from.   Naturally, there are those old mossbacks that continue to profess there is only one, true road that everyone should follow.  To those I say "Bunk!"  Get the hell out of my way!

The Coal Miner - Part 8 - The Hat Bill

The Coal MinerPart 8 -The Hat Bill from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

The Coal Miner - Part 7- The Hat

Coal Miner - Part-7- The Hat from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

The Coal Miner - Part 6 - The Eyes

Had to revert back to the MP4 format as the length of this video was just too long for an HD upload.  Sorry.

Coal Miner - Part 6 - The Eyes from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

Okay....here's an edited HD version.

Coal Miner - Part-6-HD Close Up-Mustache & Ear from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

The Out West Shop Gets A Facelift!

The painters finished up today.  Good thing as the weather is turning cold and there's snow in the forecast.  I've been wanting to paint the place just about since we bought it over  23 years ago.  How's that for procrastination?  Having too much fun with other things I guess.   Anyway, it's done now and I can finally get back inside and get busy again.  Are you 'Green' with envy?

The Coal Miner - Part 5 - Mustache & Ears

Coal Miner - Part-5-Mustache & Ear from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.