The Cherokee Kid

Old Will, or rather Young Will in this case, is passing the time spinning some rope and that boy can spin some rope!  This was really an enjoyable figure to do.  Lots of action with a little humor tossed in for good measure which Will would probably approve of.   I based the figure and the colors of the clothes and chaps on the painting "Dog Iron" by Wayne Cooper which hangs inside the Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma.  The Dog Iron Ranch was where Will grew up just outside Oolagah, OK.  The ranch is now part of the Memorial and well worth a stop if you're ever in the area.

For the rope I use a larger size of commercially twisted wire available at Lowes so as to bring it into scale with the figure.   There are some more photos in the gallery and your comments are always welcome.

Will Rogers - Part 2

Finished up with the carving part of this project this afternoon.  He's looking better and better.  Still have to burn in the color breaks and the details.  Thought I had a problem with the rope he'll be spinning but figured it out after the second trip to Lowes.   This is a  pretty big bust, standing around 15" tall with the base, so he'll be a pretty impressive piece.

Hope you like him.

Will Rogers

It's been quite a while since I carved Will Rogers and as they were asking about him last week when Judy and I paid a visit to Woolaroc museum I thought I'd do another bust of the Oklahoma humorist.   The hat behind his head is not the one that will be there at the end but it will give you some idea of what's to come.   Hope you like him.

Getting To The Root Of The Problem

Back in 1998 I was approached by the wife of a Dentist from Oologah, Oklahoma who ask if I could do a carving of a Dentist. I said sure...as long as I could do it in an old west style. I also told her that if she gave me free rein I would do something special and that if she didn't like the result she would be under no obligation to purchase it. She did...I did...and this is the result.
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Before starting I made a trip to Oologah to find out as much as I could about the place. I knew that Will Rogers grew up on the Dog Iron Ranch just outside the town but other than that I relied on what I could gleen from the small museum on main street. Armed with lots of notes and a few photos I headed back home and into the shop to start the project.
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In the accompanying photos you can see the beginning of the construction of the building and in one photo you can see the cardboard mockup I created to get the scale of the piece. Once the building was complete I started populating the scene with the various figures and details. There is Will riding down the street greeting all his friends along with a local Native American watching from the walkway. Inside there is a poor fella in pain listening to what's happening on the other side of the door. Now I can't say just what's wrong with that cowboy's tooth but it must have the longest roots in eastern Oklahoma!
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I took special care to make sure all the details were correct to the period from the Dentists drill to the local calendar advertisements on the waiting room wall, to the adds in the newspaper.
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She had no idea just what was under the sheet when she came by to check it out but I guess she approved as it went home with her. Her husband was so thrilled by the scene that he went out and bought a vacant house across the street from his office and refurbished it to look like my building. A photo of it is included in the gallery. That has got to be a first for a woodcarving!
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Again, it took a while to come up with an appropriate title but I think the one I settled on was just what the scene needed. In sum, this was a great and fun project. Everything seemed to just fall into place. Hope you enjoy it. Comments always welcome.