An Early Checkin!

Don't ask me how I came up with this idea....it just happened! I had completed the head a year ago and it just sat on the workbench smiling at me to where I just couldn't take it anymore. Doing it as a Dude from the city showing up for his week at the Happy Landing Guest Ranch seemed a good way put him to use. The dog? Well... let's just not go there!
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I tried something new with him that I'll probably use in the future now that I know how to do it and that's how to make really good looking glasses. I bent the glass frames from thin cooper and soldered in a nose piece and then attached the ear pieces. I then bent the ear pieces to match the head as doing it once the glasses were finished would be too risky. Putting down a piece of wax paper I mixed up some clear epoxy and while holding the frames level dropped in some of the mixture until the frames were full. Once the glue had gone off I pealed off the paper and then very carefully on my little disc sander sanded off the face of the frame so it was level. This left a frosted look to the plastic lenses which looks good I think. Once the frames were painted and placed on the head a little epoxy to hold them in place. I really like the look!!
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Lots more photos on the gallery page.

Here is a carving of a Huron warrior that I did back in 2000. It's a fairly detailed piece. I especially like the Flintlock rifle. I made the firing mechnism out of metal wire, pounded flat and then bent to shape. The trigger guard was made the same way. The two little ties on his leggins are also metal. Everything else is wood.
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Back then I was carving my eyes as only slits as I didn't think the pupils really showed much on the scale I was working. However, as this figure was much bigger, standing at about 22 inches it was clear to me after completing this piece that I couldn't get away with it on a larger sized figure. So, any new figures completed after this one all have their eyes completely visible. I think it was a good decision as it allows a lot more action in a figure by being able to have those eyeballs moving around.
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Lots of photos after the jump.

Waiitng For A Good One

While this guy might look like he's missing his Harley he's really just leaning against the fence surveying the herd for a good ride for the day. He'll be holding his lasso in one hand and the horses's headstall and bit in the other.
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This will make a nice little scene but it would have been better had I moved his elbows back over the fence rail farther. It would have made him much more relaxed. Next time!!

More photos after the jump to the Gallery.

Chief Bear Claw

Here's another quick one. I started this yesterday after lunch and wrapped up the carving and burning just before lunch today so I have about 6 hours total into it so far and that includes the base. Some of you ask.....so now you know how fast I work. Now, in no way does this reflect how much time I spend on every piece. This one just seemed to go together.

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I'm trying something different here....a Bear Claw neckless. You'll note that the claws are missing! I'll add those once the piece is painted as I want the claws to be over the beaded strips but with the beads still clearly visible. I've attached a photo of the claws in a rough shape. Each will be carved and fitted into the cutouts once they're painted. Should be a neat effect and this ought to also be a very colorful piece.

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I really enjoy doing Native Americans as there is so much color and possibilities for details. It's funny though, I'll do a bunch of them and then they'll just set on the Gallery shelf for months then BANG! they're all gone.

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Okay...the painting is complete and I think the figure really turned out well. I spent about twice the time painting on this one as I did on carving it. But it was fun and the necklace really turned out just the way I thought it would.

Ol' Brushy Bill

Here is a little bust I did over the past couple of days. It was more an experiment in doing a head with a rather large mustache than anything else. We have a small woodcarvers group that meets once a week at the Grove Community Center and that's where I completed the head. Finished it up once I got home.
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The eye glasses are made from wire...soldered and painted gold then inserted into holes. The neck medallion is made from wood but I used pounded wire for the leather tassels as I didn't want them to break off over time. I think this is a very important thing to remember for those of us that sell their work....Build as much strength into your pieces as you can so they'll stand up to handling, cleaning or any sort of abuse.
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A friend made the comment that he looked like Teddy Roosevelt....hmmmmmm.....I'll have to remember that as I've always wanted to do a figure of him. The secret would be to get that toothy smile!
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More photos in the Gallery!!

Sad End To A Bad Year

Now here is one sad Cowboy! You'd probably feel the same way if you received such a piece of paper in the mail. This piece was a lot of fun to do even though old Tex probably would have preferred being left in the chunk of wood he was born from.

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I turned the milk can on the lathe and then whittled it to look carved. A few bullet holes and a couple of metal handles finished it up. The mailbox has all the required hardware...the flag and the metal door closure. Would have liked to have made the whole thing from tin so the front door could have been left open but just didn't have the time. Maybe in the future. The letter and the envelope were made from tin so they'd hold up over time.

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There are lots of photos in the Gallery section.

Carving A Horse Head - Part 2

It's time to wrap this part of the horse project up. Along with the carving tips I'll give you a little lesson on horse anatomy that just might help you to understand just how much the inside of a thing can affect the outside.
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There were several questions on the last post about how thick the head should be. With all the photos associated with this post you should have no trouble figuring that out on your own. Half the fun of doing something is figuring out how to do it.
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In the very near future I'll continue this project by moving on to the body of the horse. So if that post is not up when your finished with the head just set it aside for a bit.
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Again, there are a lot of photos in the gallery so let's get started.

Carving A Horse Head - Part 1

As Norm always says...."Before we start, let's take a moment and talk about shop safety!" This valid advice applies to woodcarving too so make sure your tools are sharp and you have a carving glove on along with a thumb protector. In the accompanying photos you'll see that I'm suited up. It's the only way to carve!

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As you can see by in the photo you will need a basswood block 3-1/2" by 4" and at least 2" thick. Lay the head out with the grain running up and down. While the one block looks a little larger....it's not! It's just thicker. I will cut out two different blanks to show you a little trick to give a future project a little more interest. You will also note that on that thicker block I've moved the ears just a bit. This will make this horse just a little different than the other. No fun in carving the same thing over and over.

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I've included a few reference photos of our horses that I will refer to as we go along. There will be lots of comments along with the photos so let's get started.

Carving A Horse Head

Some of you have been after me to do a horse and I've been giving a lot of thought on just how to go about it to keep it fun but to also make it a little easier to complete. So....we'll start with just the horse's head and expand the project from there.

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Now this is a caricature carving but before you begin I'd suggest doing some research on a real horse to see just how the muscle structure works. Whatever you do, don't rush into this project before you have a good understanding just what a horse is. I think you're going to be surprised at just how easy this project will be if you do these things.

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I've included a little pattern cutout that I use. It's about 3-1/2" across the head and neck. I'd suggest you lay the pattern out on a 2" thick piece of basswood. I'd also suggest you wait until the next installment of this project to see the best way to go about establishing grain direction plus a couple of other tips to make your animal more natural looking.

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Once we get the head laid out and carved we'll move on to the body and hopefully end up with a complete horse.

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A few more photos in the Gallery.

Will Rogers

Back in 2000 I was approached by the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma to do a number of carvings. As part of that project I did a carving of Will as a young cowhand on his Father's Dog Iron Ranch outside of Oologah, just up the road from Claremore. While the other pieces were sold in the Museum's gift shop the carving of young Will was displayed in the main hall up until the end of last year. As there was a change in the Museum's management, with a new Director taking over at the first of the year, I have a feeling that Will packed his bags and left with the old Director. Whatever happened to him I hope he's appreciated. Still, it was nice while it lasted to see my work displayed so prominently in such a prestigious place. The Charlie Russell bronze of Will on his horse was within sight of him. How's that for company?

While in Claremore today for another western event, my wife and I stopped by the Memorial to do a little research for a new piece I'd like to do. I managed to snap a few photos to use as go-bys and I've put them in the Gallery section of this Blog should you be interested. Will Rogers was really a fasinating person, especially as he started out not far from here in Jay. We've been truly lucky to have a close relationship with the Memorial. We were invited to bring our Chuckwagon to the Dog Iron for Will's 200th Birthday celebration a couple years ago. Serving biscuits and hot coffee to most of his living relatives was a real treat. It's such things that make my interest in woodcarving continue to grow and, most importantly, continue to be so much fun.