First Project Gene Messer's Bear

[johnwilldo]

Hi All,

The carving group has convened where I am wintering and I have been able to get Gene Messer's cute little black bear almost ready to paint. I carved around an accidently shortened foot (paw) and have tried to round out the squareness of the 1 1/2 inch practice stick.

This is a really fun project and I am pleased with the results. Gene makes it look easy and it is not too difficult to follow Gene's excellent video. A fellow carver friend gave me my next project already rough cut, a cowboy boot! He was afraid that the bear was going to look more like a mouse than a bear!

Hope I can upload the pictures and share a work in progress. I have to figure out how to do that process and get them to a photo hosting site. It does not look like I can upload them diredtly from my hard drive.

[BeckyLil]

If you use the " Reply" button instead of the quick reply box, there is an option to manage attachments (or something very similar to that) below the box where you type the message. That will take it directly from your hard drive providing the picture isn't too large a file. It might limit the number of pictures you can post per message but it should work for you until you get set up on photobucket or wherever.

[Eddy-Smiles]

John... Looking forward to seeing your work. I did four or five bears as practice myself last month and still have to paint them. I'm still trying to get them to look like Gene's bears!

[johnwilldo]

Hi,

I have to trim the Photos down to a smaller size in Photoshop. It will probably be easier to send them to Snapfish and do it that way. Thanks for the help

The Bear has to look like Gene's bear? I need more wood!

[Eddy-Smiles]

Nice work John... I like the way you put the hair on his snout and rounded the head.

[johnwilldo]

Thanks, Eddy

With the wide angle lens, Gene's little bear looks like he has the mumps!

I am working on getting the pictures uploaded to one of the hosting sites. Now I have to paint the bear and finish up a new project, a Cowboy boot!

No job offer yet, so I get to play some more. The carvers meet twice a week here at Val Vista Village, so I am off to enjoy the group. Might even get in some carving. I think we do more talking than carving, but in my two days attending so far, we have elected a new president, stabilized the world monetary market, and discussed the secrets of keeping our women happy!

There may have been one or two comments on carving too. They have the same stropping machine that Gene Messer shows in his You Tube video and it works great!

[Simplyme]

Truly love what you did with the roundness......Would love to see his full body

[gene-messer]

John .. you did good on that face .. Thanks for trying .. it doesnt have to look like mine .. it probably will look better ..

Keep it up my friend .. your doing great ..

Gene

[johnwilldo]

Hi All,

Gene, thanks for your encouraging words. The bear is a great project. My bear's profile looks a little like an indian with mumps and the stomach is a little flat, but I am very pleased with the results.

My new buddy and carving partner knew that I wanted to do a cowboy boot, so on Tuesday, he gifted me with a cottonwood cut out for a cowboy boot. I used Gene's video and the book, First Projects, to do the cowboy boot.

This is pretty fun! I still have all my fingers and these wonderful things come out of this wooden block! Whood a thunk it? I think I now can upload the a few photos thanks to the help from you guys and gals.

[BeckyLil]

Hey- Great job on both of those! Even down to the nails and stitching on the bottom of the boot. Very nice indeed. It's hard to believe those are your first projects.

Please post more pics after you've finished the painting.