[Lynn O. Doughty]

Here's another little piece I did several years ago that you might enjoy. I've always admired Andy Anderson's carvings of Chain Gang convicts so thought I would try my hand at one. There's a real story about how I decided to do it so if you're interested here it is.

Back in the early 80's we lived in Dakar, Senegal for four years. The natives are an industrious lot in that country and one of the most hard working bunch were the gravel makers. They'd find a large rock close to a road and literally set there and reduce it to pea-sized gravel with nothing more than a hammer and chisel, just like that little guy in the photo. This was the idea I though would be neat to portray.

Years ago the wife and I had just returned from a trip out to California and on the way back we stopped off at that big Meteor Crater in Arizona. It was there I picked up the rock he's setting on. You never know....that might be a piece of something from way, way, way out there. I mixed up a big pool of autobody putty and set that rock right in the middle of it and then surrounded it with some smaller pieces from our planet then once the putty set I whittled it to the desired shape. A little extra color and some dry brushing really set the whole mount off.

With the mount done it was easy to see the figure perched on top pounding away. I find that sometimes it's best to build the setting before starting any characters that might inhabit it. This was such a case. Once the figure was completed and painted I anchored him into the rock. I then carved the ball and used a small piece fo chain from a necklace I bought at the Walmart jewelry section. This was fixed to the metal legband and rivited into place.

So, that's the story behind this carving....a hard-working jailbird, setting on an astroid, pounding rocks. And we think we have it hard.

[JIM QUILICI]

that is a great carving , with a great story,
Jim

[JerryH]

I agree with Jim....great story and a fantastic carving!
Jerry

[K Karver]

Lynn,

Really nice. The guy is just the right size for the rock. He'll be there forever.

John

[windsong]

Lynn
That is a great ideal i wonder what hes in for!!!Thay may have him in jail but thay could not get his boots.You did a great job as all ways.
windsong

[Kenny_S]

Lynn, did you have this on display at the Woodcraft store in Tulsa.
No matter, Very nice looking piece.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Yes, it's in the Tulsa Woodcraft store. They got it through their purchase award. Hopefully, it's still on display.

[Myron Compton]

Are those cowboy boots on that jailbird? Really nice......Myron

[gene messer]

What a fantastic piece Lynn .. The subject , carving and painting are first rate ..

Excellent piece ..

Gene

[Mark N. Akers]

Lynn:
Great job on the little prisoner,love the detail in the whole carving.