Derby Winner

Bob_in_TN · #11 03-09-2007, 10:13 AM

Looks good Blake, I expect to see a ribbon on that one.

Doug Ridley · #12 03-09-2007, 12:39 PM

Pretty good job in my opinion. I like it a lot.

Lynn O. Doughty · #13 03-09-2007, 01:24 PM

Nice carving Blake. Now remember you ask, so here's what I'd do....

First....Get him on a base! He deserves it! A real nice hardwood one, i.e., oak, walnut.

Second..Like the others, paint that money to look as real as possible. Pull out one of those $100's you've probably got folded up in a side pocket so the missus doesn't see and use it as a guide.

Third....Times short but you can still do it. Deepen the colors more. Satins have a sheen to them and you can do it by mixing in a little silver or gold with your colors. On the hat you need pie shaped pieces or other designs to really carry the Jockey theme.

Fourth...The colors you used realy look flat like you didn't varnish them. A coat of Polyurethane will really brighten them up.

These are only suggestions on what I'd do to improve the figure. It's still a winner.

Mark N. Akers · #14 03-09-2007, 01:48 PM

Blake:
Great job on the carving and painting,can't wait to see it this weekend.

Arnold Smith · #15 03-09-2007, 06:43 PM

Good job Blake. good id. wish i was going to Johnson City. But I will have to skip this one.

Arnold

Blake Lunsford · #16 03-09-2007, 09:59 PM

Thanks everyone for your kind comments and for taking a look! I went ahead and took the advice of some of you and painted the money to look like real money. Pretty difficult painting with a toothpick, but I am fairly pleased. I wish I had time to make some of the adjustments that Lynn suggested, but hopefully I can plan better on my next piece like this one. Hey Lynn, any recommendations on where I could get a good supply of bases?? Unfortunately I don't have a router so I would have a difficult time making my own.

Good luck to everyone at the show tomorrow! I am taking my camera so I will make sure to take plenty of pics!

Blake

Mitchell · #17 03-09-2007, 10:55 PM

Great job on the money Blake. Details like that really make the difference for show pieces.

I got the car fixed, so the only hold back is sleep, the wife, the dog, getting packed, etc...

IF I can get up feeling better, I may make the trip up (over). Good luck on your jockey!

Claude · #18 03-09-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vacaricature carver

...I went ahead and took the advice of some of you and painted the money to look like real money. ...Blake

Great money now, Blake! I definitely agree with Lynn; a nice oak or walnut base would be great. When I get a chance, I'll post some photos of a base or two I've made recently. Just got a new Porter-Cable router and have been trying to put it to good use... BTW, when I re-did the base on a carving for my wife, she commented that she was really glad I got the router...

Claude

Doug Ridley · #19 03-10-2007, 07:59 AM

You don't have to have a router to make a nice base. Although I prefer one and I do rout most of my bases, you can still make a nice looking Walnut base with plain sawn and sanded sides. A 3/4 " board sawn to a 4"by 4" square, sanded well and varnished looks pretty good.

Lynn O. Doughty · #20 03-10-2007, 09:36 AM

If you have a bandsaw try this. The checkered base was great but a darker one beneath it would really set the whole thing off. Like Doug said, 3/4 inch walnut or oak stained dark works best. However, as your figure's platform is circular I'd also make the base the same shape. Usa a compass to draw a circle about 1/4" wider than you want it. Tilt your bandsaw table to give just a little angle to the blade. Now, remembering that the circle you drew will be the bottom of the base cut it out. This will give you a gentle slope up to the carving with just a little reveal between the platform and the darker base.

Believe me, once it's sanded smooth, stained and varnished it will make your carving look 100 percent better.