Here's a New One!

 

I finally finished this one up this morning.  It's been setting on my work table for about a month so I'm glad he's moved over to the paint table.  There's not much that's new about the figure.....Just another Cowboy bust.  However, I was having trouble with the neckerchief, being as it was a bust and the scarf  knot usually is on the back of the neck I realized that I carved the cloth without it.  Well, setting at the computer the other day doing my normal morning web searches I happen to glance over and see a little
memory stick which had the shape of the missing piece.  So, a quick trip down to the shop, a search through the cutoff box, a little carving and some reworking one side of the cloth, the problem was solved.  Turned out pretty nice and gave some needed interest to the piece.  

I hope you like it.  Comments welcome. 

Angora Chaps - Again?

I know, I know...I've covered the subject of this Cowboy detail countless times but I just can't get enough of those chaps.  This time I at least made them a different color so some credit should be given for that!

In a previous video I made the comment that if at all possible you should never lay your carving tools aside for a long period or you might pay for it once the desire to carve something returns.  This fella was a clear case of that.  It seemed like he just did not want to exit from that block of Heineke wood!  So, if you're kicked back in that recliner while your knives are growing cold and dull, get up and strop them back in shape.  There's a figure out there waiting to be brought to life. 

Comments welcomed as always. 

It Wasn't So Bad Till He Put the Socks In!

Here's one from way back to the PD  (Pre-Digital) days.  I think I did this one in the mid-90's and it was quickly sold to a fella out in California.  Matter of fact...we drove it out to him as I had just recently shipped a large scene to another collector out there and it arrived almost destroyed by UPS.  I had even paid to have it professionally packed by Postnet.  Some packing!!  After that experience I developed my own packing system and have never again experienced any problems. 

I really enjoyed building the windmill, complete with a scale model of the fan and vane mechanism.  Judy, while being a little hesitant, came down to model for the figure. She also made the barbed wire for the fence.  I painted the interior surface of the stock tank a very dark greenish blue and then poured in a layer of clear acrylic resin for a great effect.  A couple of chickens and socks finished things up.  The title of the piece comes from the conversation the two horses are having. 

It's really fun seeing some old friends after a long absence. In the next post I'll show you a few more.  

Comments welcome!

Red Dirt Wrangler

If you've ever driven across Oklahoma you note that while going west and approaching the middle of the state the earth turns quite red.  Maybe that's why they send all the Indians here?  Anyway, I thought I'd combine the two into a character and created this Cowboy with braids.  No doubt there were quite a few of them out there pushing cattle and probably still are. 

Hope you like him.  

The Wood Chopper

Now this one is an exact copy of one I did a few years back.  But as he too is headed to Santa Fe, and as I always liked the way the colors were so bright and worked so well together,  I thought it would gather a lot of interest setting in our display.  

The wood under his arm is actually some split twigs I picked up outside the shop and instead of using Medium Density Fiberboard for the snow I used partical board....a mistake I won't repeat.  It took a lot of Bondo and some spot putty to get that rough stuff smooth enough to paint.  One think I did new was using some texture spray paint as a base for the white.  That worked out really well, giving a great appearance.  A fun piece.

Hope you like him.

Cimarron

Not much to say about this fella as I've done so many Cowboys over the years there is not really anything that new about him.  He's is a lot larger than my normal figure, standing about 20" with the base.  He's heading to the big show in Santa Fe so I wanted him a size that would catch some attention.  I also use a little gray to his hair....what's left of it, as there are a lot of older folks attending these types of show and maybe someone just might take him home with them.  Hope so!

I hope you like him and will look forward to any comments. 

A Short Rope For A Long Drop

I've used this pose several times in the past.  To this one I added the hangman's rope and noose to create a little mystery to the piece.  The rope is made out of twisted wire and while I don't think I was able to wrap the knot the regulation 13 times I still think it carries the effect pretty well.  

Hope you like him. 

The Dude

I thought I would try another Wrangler with reflective sunglasses like I did with Teddy Blue a while back.   Teddy went over as a smash hit so hopefully this fella will too.  Hope you like him. 

Beans & Biscuits

I finished this carving last week.  So the next step is determining just how to present it.   As I've done a number of Chuck Wagon Cooks in the past I want to make this one unique from those.  Now I could just mount him on a base by himself but by adding another detail apart from him it creates a more complete story.  The addition of a Dutch Oven which will eventually be filled with baked biscuits does the trick.

I don't know his name, but just looking at him I can tell he is one, crusty individual.  By the looks of that belly I can also tell he's a fan of his own cooking.  Also, by his holding a kerosene lantern it must be pretty early in the morning and while I'm sure the cowboys waking up will be hungry I seriously doubt if they'll appreciate having beans for breakfast.  The circular cutout, while still a little large, will make a nice platform for the scene.  I thought about adding a coffee pot but I think that would crowd the composition. 

So, the scene and the story is complete and the only thing left is the painting and putting everything together.   Hope you like him.   And comments welcome as always. 

Monday Mornings

Here's a new one that left the Ranch before the paint was dry!   The weekend's over and he's not to happy about what the Top Hand has laid out for him.  At least it's not fence work.

Hope you like him. 

"Dang Rustlers!"

I finished this one up last week.  I really like to do the 3/4 style busts as a lot of detail can be squeezed in without making the figure so large. 

This Rancher is after the reprobates who have been diminishing his livestock.  He's got his noose ready and is heading to the corral to saddle up and put an end to it.  Someone's gonna get their neck stretched!

Cold Morning Cowboy

Brrrrr!  I don't envy this Buckaroo, having to face a day in the saddle checking the fence lines.  Hopefully he had a good breakfast and is wearing his woolies cause it's cold out there.  That's a stogie in his mouth.  He should know better!

This one also stands about 12" tall with a base made from an old fence post we have on the property.  I think it's Dogwood as they never seem to rot. 

Hope you like him. 

The Patriot

Here's the piece I'm donating to the Dayton shows Silent Auction event.  A portion of the sale goes toward the groups charities and also help defray some of the costs for holding the show.  Here's hoping it goes for a tidy sum. 

Blowing in the Wind

Really pleased with this pose as it's showing lots of movement even in the rough stage.  Naturally, he'll have a hat with an upturned brim to carry the wind theme.    Wish I would have turned the end of the neckerchief up to increase the interest.  Oh well, next time.  Hope you like it.

Teddy Blue

Happy New Year!

Well, not only did Quint get a coat of paint he also got a new name.   I'll admit I took a little liberty with the name as E.C. "Teddy  Blue" Abbott was a good friend and rode with painter Charles Russell and wrote the book "We Pointed Them North", about the cattle drives out of Texas which was the basis for the mini-series "Lonesome Dove".  Not bad for a dusty cowboy working the ranges back in 1870-80.  

By taking liberties I mean the addition of those shiny, reflective shades he's sporting.  If you remember,  I had done them in an earlier set of videos.  It took me a few days to finally decide to add them as the carving detail on his eyes had turned out so well.  But after painting the neckerchief that beautiful blue they just seemed to be part of the carving.  Also, I added a little extra bling to his watch chain by giving it a fob, hanging of the end at the button hole.  With the walnut base he stands about 12" tall.  Hope you like him.

On another topic......The fiber-optic internet installation just might be on the horizon as they stopped by and took a measurement of where the line would be laid.  Boy, I sure hope so.  We've been waiting on it for almost 3 years.  The lack of a decent upload speed is the main reason for the lack our video output.  Anyway, we've got our fingers crossed.

Next up?  The painting of "Spotted Elk".  I still have some work to do on the feathers and the lance but I will work on that today.  As always, comments welcome.

Quint

I might have posted a photo of this piece on Face Book but, as he's still setting on the work bench in his raw state maybe posting it here will get me out of my rut and get him painted.

He measures around 10-12 inches with the base and once painted should really be a nice one.  I did a little extra detail on his watch chain by adding a fob at the button-hole connection.

As you've probably noticed, my posts have been kind of rare lately.  Hopefully, once the year turns the urge to produce and publish will return.  In the meantime, I hope you like this cowpoke and I'll look forward to your comments as I always do.

Carving a Cowboy With Angora Chaps - Part 29

Cowboy With Angora Chaps Part 29 from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

Here is the last part of this series.  I hope you enjoyed following us along in creating him.  There are a number of photos in the Gallery and I will look forward to your comments.

Carving a Cowboy With Angora Chaps - Part 28

Cowboy With Angora Chaps Part 28 from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

Carving a Cowboy With Angora Chaps - Part 27

Finally, after three attempts, I was able to get this segment up and on the Blog.  Some days it's a battle.  But as Chief Dan George said...I "Endeavor to Persevere"!

Cowboy With Angora Chaps Part 27 from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.

Carving a Cowboy With Angora Chaps - Part 26

Cowboy With Angora Chaps Part 26 from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.