Woodcarving Illustrated - How To Magazine for Carvers: Sailor with Flag

Sailor with Flag
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Ross Oar on 02/14/2010 10:46:00
 
My “Sailor with Flag” composition was inspired by two events more than 40
years apart. The first was my service in the Navy from 1958-1960, as a torpedo
man aboard the USS McCaffery. The second was an upcoming reunion with my
shipmates where the carving would be my contribution to a fund-raising raffle.
Before finishing this caricature, the United States was rocked by the September
11, 2001 tragedy. That’s when I decided to add the American flag to make the
project more patriotic.
PREPARATION
I first sculpted a clay model of the sailor. Clay offers a three-dimensional
form from which to copy; it also serves as a model for establishing more
animation than I might achieve otherwise with paper patterns and illustrations.
While I’ve had many years of experience carving figures, the unfurled flag
was something I had not done. To visualize how to carve it, I used a piece of
heavy paper laid flat and drew the rectangle for the flag, adding the stars and
bars. I then rolled the paper like a cone, folded and glued it to a dowel to
have a model to study when I carved and painted.
I based the sailor’s uniform on one I wore while serving aboard the USS
McCaffery, a destroyer escort for the aircraft carrier Wasp. The insignia on the
sailor’s left arm is the torpedo man’s rating. The service awards carved on
the chest represent “marksman” and “service time.”
As for most of my projects, I used basswood. The wood is easy to carve and
holds details well. I believe it is the best wood for carving caricatures. The
sailor was created from a basswood block about 5 in. thick by 6 in. wide and 14
in. long. The basswood flag began 8 in. long and 4 in. square. The flagpole is a
length of dowel.
CARVING TIPS
My arsenal of tools included a 11/2-in. carving knife, no. 9 and 10 gouges, a
6mm fishtail gouge, and a 75-degree 12mm V tool. After bandsawing the cutout to
shape, I started with a no. 9 12mm gouge to rough out the two pieces. Then, I
gradually worked on the details, not overdoing any one area. Making a lot of
small cuts with gouges gives me a cleaner-looking surface. Typically, I cut
across the grain a lot because basswood yields the desired cuts without
splitting or chipping.
For the inner part of the flag, I used a knife and several different
gouges—especially no. 9s and 10s. I finished the inside with a fishtail gouge
and the outside with a knife to make it smooth.
PAINTING NOTES
I used watered-down acrylics for most of the project, keeping them on the light
side so viewers can tell there is wood underneath. While colors can be darkened
by adding more paint, they cannot be lightened. I did find that applying oil
paints to the face and hands of the sailor allowed me to blend and texture
colors to achieve more accurate skin tone.
As I do with other carvings, I painted the face and hands first. These are
areas that can be problematic and may take some time. To achieve skin tone, I
mixed small amounts of yellow and red oil paints on plastic lids from cottage
cheese and butter containers, playing around with the colors until the mixture
suited my eye.
The sailor’s uniform is an acrylic blue, but I stippled burnt umber under the
arms and in other places where I wanted to create shadows. To highlight high
spots such as where the shoulders and elbows stand out, I stippled with white,
adding more water to the paint so the material looks stretched.
To dry the acrylics quickly, I used a hair dryer. For the oil colors, I added a
cobalt dryer, which helps dry the paints in a day. This additive is available at
most hobby and artists’ supply stores.
A few words of advice: Take your time and be as meticulous as you can with the
painting. Poor painting techniques will ruin even a great carving.
FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS
The reunion was held in Portsmouth, Virginia, October 2002. My carving was such
a hit that it sold more than $600 in raffle tickets. The money will be used to
help fund future reunions.