Scales

Yvonne_A · #1 10-22-2005, 11:15 AM

Hi,
Iâ€™m working on my latest sculptural form at the moment, which consists of my second attempt at carving an animal. Previously when I carved a snake I burnt the scales on using a pyrogprahy kit which everyone said looked effective but I was wondering if this is the best way of simulating the look of scales or if there is a better way.

If anyone has any tips or advice on different methods I would much appreciate it.

Irish · #2 10-22-2005, 11:33 AM

Hi Yvonne. I think you are on the right track using the wood burner to distinguish snake scales. Scales are not very defined, not like ruffled bird feathers. Instead they are more like the fine feathers along a bird's shoulder. So you want just a hint on scaling.

Huge has an excellent tutorial on his website. He posted a while back in Bird Carving. I believe it may be a great guide for you.

Susan

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #3 10-22-2005, 11:47 AM

There is a man that carves snakes on walking sticks, he starts with a 6" stick and carves it down, fantastic carving and the snakes look real...but I am sorry I can't remember his name, a google search would bring it up I am sure, either under woodcarving snakes, or walking sticks etc. (He also had a tutorial on the whole process) Dave I have to leave for the day, this evening if I can remember, I will try to find the site.

AlArchie · #4 10-22-2005, 12:34 PM

There are different types of scales on different types of snakes, just like there are different scales on different fish. Generally you will find either smooth or keeled scales on snakes. Smooth scales can be represented as semi-circular, and you won't be too far off base. Keeled scales have a high ridge, or keel running along the central axis, and the scales are elongated and somewhat diamond-shaped. I've used small, semi-circular gouges to incise smooth scales and for some fish, but burning seems to be the best. You can buy or make scaling tips for most high end burners, and I have made scaling tips for the "hobby pens" that work quite well. I think I posted instructions for making these on this site some time back, but don't remember for sure when.

Al

DiamondWillow · #5 10-22-2005, 07:59 PM

Here is a site I think Hi Ho may have been referring to, at least I think it is a wonderful site with lots of good information and pictures. See if it will help you out, I want to try one myself some day.

Gene

http://www.artsticks.com/SNAKEHOWTO.html

AlArchie · #6 10-22-2005, 08:08 PM

That, Gene, is an amazing site, series of carvings, and instructions! Thanks for posting that! Sure makes one humble, doesn't it? Yhink I'll bookmark that one.

Al

Hisart · #7 10-22-2005, 09:34 PM

Hey DiamondWillow,
Wow, you gotta love that!
I love snakes and that's just beautiful!
Definately bookmarked that one, Thanks!

Donna_T · #8 10-22-2005, 10:44 PM

When I first carved fish, a delightful former taxidermist from Springfield, MO was a great mentor. One of the techniques he showed was to simply draw the scales with a soft graphite pencil and then airbrush semi-transparant paints over them. The lines showed through faintly without any indentation in the wood. He also showed what it looked like when he used an ultra fine mechanical pencil with harder lead--that left an indentation in the wood with each mark, and very little lead.

I tried it once and it did look real without taking all the time it takes to burn scales on an entire fish. As always, I offer this as just another possibility to try. When I'm carving a lot, I like to experiment with different techniques to see how the results differ. SOme are cool and some are quickly discarded. But you know, my kids and grandkids love my "mistakes" almost as much as my good stuff!

Donna T

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #9 10-22-2005, 10:59 PM

Thats the one Gene...thanks! Donna...that is a great idea and I bet it can be used in other circumstances as well.

Yvonne_A · #10 10-23-2005, 08:54 AM

Thanks for the information and ideas.

The work on the site is absolutely fantastic, especially the snakes. Previously when I had tried carving smooth scales on a scrap of wood I had used a semi-circular gouge and tried to undercut each scale slightly to emulate the fact they overlap. I wasnâ€™t at all pleased with the results but having read the tutorial I think also shaping the other sides of the scale as well would yield better results.

I think I still need to resort to burning some of the scales but the problem is I was hoping to leave the wood its natural colour. When I did the snake I found that no matter how much I turned the heat down, the burned scales still looked a little harsher on the pale Lime wood than I would have liked.

Also I was hoping to enter the piece Iâ€™m working on into a wood carving competition in November (my first wood carving competition), although at the moment it doesnâ€™t look like Iâ€™m going to get it finished in time. When I talked to some of the woodcarvers at the competition last year they seemed to think that burning feathers or scales on carvings, as some of the entered pieces had, was wrong. As far as I know these pieces they were complaining about werenâ€™t disqualified and some had even won prizes but it did make me wonder if I shouldnâ€™t be burning any scales, even though I think sometimes it is more effective.