If you're familiar with the TV series and book Lonesome Dove you will recognize Po Campo, the camp cook on the drive to Montana. As he got his job by offering up some crispy insects I thought I would add one to create a little interest to the piece. I carved the body of the Grasshopper and then, using wire for the legs and some monofilament fishing line for the antenna, spent almost as much time painting it as I did with Campo.
Hope you like him.
Here Is "Po Campo", from the Larry McMurtry book, Lonesome Dove. I'm sure that most of you following this Blog have certainly seen the Lonesome Dove series on TV so you no doubt know the character I'm referring to. One of the character's main features is that, when being hired as cook, he offered Gus and Woodrow some tasty Grasshoppers as an example of his cooking. Must have been good as he was hired on the spot. I may have taken a couple liberties with him by adding the earring and the cigarillo, but other than that I think he would pass muster.
As you can see by the bug on the base, I added a Grasshopper to carry the theme of the piece as it needed something to finish the piece and that little addition did the trick.
I have to thank my good friend Jerry Smyers for the suggestion. That little insect will certainly add some fun to the piece. I made the body and attached legs of him from a piece of basswood and the feet from bent 16 gauge wire. He's anchored by a 1/8" dowel. He took a while to paint, probably longer than the figure of Po Compo!
Anyway I hope you like him and will look forward to your comments as I always do.
