Lookin' For A Winner!

I guess you can tell that I'm into the "L's" now. This is a really pleasing little scene. It stands about 11" tall including the base. I completed it back in '99, again during my "closed eye" period. The figure is small...about 8" tall if he were standing.

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I used an old trick or rule that I learned from art composition classes by having the figure look toward the larger area of the scene. This makes you do the same thing and by doing that focuses your attention toward the saddle. Had I tipped his head a little more to where he was looking directly at the saddle this would draw your attention even more to that area. Just as a painter does when composing his picture a sculptor or woodcarver must take these rules into account. I've seen so many good carvings that were ruined simply by not being oriented in the correct way.

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I made the fence out of scrap out of the woodbox. Once I had the seperate pieces cut I whittled them to give some texture and then doweled and glued them together. Prior to gluing I made sure that the figure sat securely on the fence and that his feet matched the rail they rested on. He was doweled to the fence on both rails. The saddle was just doweled twice on the top rail.

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Hope you like him and your comments are always welcome. More photos in the Gallery.

First Catch Of The Morning

Willy's the first one up and in the corral to make sure he get's the best pick of the assembled herd. By the look on his face he's already got his eye on a good one....at least he hopes so. He sure doesn't want another fleabag like he was stuck with yesterday.

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Again, like the Farrier in the last post, the title and the setting tells as much of the story as the figure. His loop is at the ready, and the headstall and bit are hanging on the gate. That gate is made from some old cedar fencing whittled and doweled together. I used some twisted wire to keep the gate and gate posts square and added a hook and eye also made from wire. The hindges were made from metal roof flashing, blackened and nailed in place with some small brads. Some crushed model railroad foam gives a few weeds and grass at the base of the poles.

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Hope you like him and your comments are welcome as always.