Buffalo Skull - Part 3

We wrap up the skull with this one.  In the next segment we'll work on the horns.

Buffalo Skull - Part 2

Sorry, about the delay but we had a technical glitch which caused us to lose some previously recorded material.  

Red Horse - Finished!

Just about ran out of paint on this fella.  Still pondering on whether to put a medicine totem on the front of the shield.  Probably will as it needs something to bust up that flat surface.  I used horse hair to make the scalp locks that hang off each shoulder.  Put little wire eyelets on each one and then attached them with corresponding eyelets into the shoulders.  That way they swing freely like the feathers.

The horse dance stick has a horse hair mane, a wire bit and leather reins and decorative strips front and back.  These do a good job of hiding the large dowel that holds the shield to the body.  I used a technique I used before on some lances to simulate fur on his hair wraps.  After carving them I gave them a heavy coat of Mod Podge and then sprinkled on some fine gravel.  Once dry I painted it a dark tan then emphasized the divisions with a darker brown and to finished it I dry brushed on some light tan.  I think it looks pretty good and adds a lot of interest and texture to the piece.    If you look at the large head feathers from the back you'll note some heavy texturing where they are tied together.  For that I use acrylic modeling past, stippled on and then painted.  I think it looks pretty good.

There are lots of photos in the gallery and I look forward to your comments.

Carving A Buffalo Skull - Part 1

A number of you have asked that we do a series on carving a Buffalo Skull so here's the first part.

Red Horse

Here's what I'm working on at the moment.  This one stands about 15" tall on the base so he'll be a real eye catcher when he's finished.  Still have to add the feathers to the shield and maybe a totem above the horse.  Hopefully, there will be scalp locks hanging from his shoulders as soon as we can track down some horse hair.  The dance stick will also have a lot more detail, i.e., feathers cloth or leather strips, etc.
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As I've mentioned before, I really love doing this type of carving as it's a challenge to see how much detail you can add.  Also, as they are so colorful and unique they sell immediately.  I've seen a lot of painted bronzes but they seem cold compared to these wooden fellas.
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Anyway, hope you like him so far.  As you can probably tell I've been alternating from Cowboy to Indian and back to Cowboy.  Going to have to break off of that track soon and do some horses and especially a Sheepherder.
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As always your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Jim Cleans Up!

One of the most rewarding things about operating this Blog is when it can give a little help to another carver on their way to perfecting their craft.  This morning I received a note from my good friend Jim Quilici out in California saying that he not only received both 1st and 2nd place for his two entries but he was also presented with the Caricature Carvers of America Merit Award at the Sacramento Woodcarving Show.  From the looks of that carving to the left he certainly deserved the honors.

Way to go Jim!

"Sorry Boys! It's Beans Again!"

At last!  I thought I would never get this fellas finished.  I think the problem was that it's been so long since I did a cook scene I'd forgotten just how to do it.   Still, I think he turned out pretty good and I really like the title as you can almost see the wranglers in background with various sour looks on their faces.

I used ash right out of my shop stove to color the bottom of the oven and for the coals on the lid and underneath the dutch.  Also sprinkled a few around my logs in the fire.  For the logs I used twigs but blackened them with a torch.  Funny, when I torched them there was actually a little fire going on.  Looked really neat when I blew it out and the smoke curled up through the tripod.    The shovel sort of rounds out the scene as that area would be kind of empty otherwise.

So, I hope you like him as much as I do and I sure hope the ramrod lets them dispatch a steer soon so those boys don't revolt and take it out on our little cook.  More photos in the gallery and your comments are appreciated.

One Job Old Reliable Can't Do!

If you're wondering why the posts have been slow lately it's because we've been busy taking down diseased trees around the homestead.  This was a monster red oak that the ants got to that was leaning out over the highway.  With the very hot summer we had last year and the unseasonably warm winter that stress along with the insects was just too much for a lot of the old fellas that we have on the place.

And no.....that's not me up there!  I may be a little crazy but I'm not that crazy!

"Sorry Boys! It's Beans Again!"

Whittled the shovel this morning to finish the major parts of this scene.  Still have to make some biscuits to go into the Dutch oven then it's off to the paint table.  I gave him a water bucket to put something in that right hand.  He can use it to douse that new fella who always complains when there's no meat involved.  It's empty now but I'll fill it with resin once the paint is dry.   It took me hours to balance that shovel so I could take the photo.  (Actually, I just put a drop of super glue on the base and a squirt of activator locked it in place.)  I'll cut through the top two bases to make it look as though it was stuck into the dirt.  You always need a shovel around the cook fire to move the hot coals around for the ovens and occasionally bang a head or two when the clean-up crew balks at their assigned duties.

The Woolaroc Museum is up there in cattle country so this wagon chef should be a hit.   Hope you like him too.  More photos in the Gallery.

Checkin' Her Out!

I can't say whether he's looking at the 4 legged filly in the round pen or the 2 legged one setting on the fence.  Whichever, by the look on his face I think he approves of what he sees!

For a while I had my doubts about the paint job on this wrangler but in the end he turned out pretty well.  With the base he stands about 14" tall which makes a really nice presentation.  The stampede string on his hat is just twisted wire with a wooden bead I carved.  I wrapped a short piece of the wire around the center of the bead which gave me a post that I could use to anchor the strings to his chest.

Hope you like him and there are more photos in the Gallery.  Comments always welcome.