[Lynn O. Doughty]

I have attached a number of photos of a carving I did a couple of years ago which, I think, illustrates the importance of adding details to your carvings to carry the theme of just what you're trying to capture. Having strung a barbedwire fence around our property a few years back I can symphathize with the attitude of this Cowpoke. It's not fun! However, it does make a good and amusing subject for a caricature carving.

I brought my posthole diggers into the shop and made a cardboard pattern of the metal part of the blades. I then cut two blades out of some thin tin and bent them to shape. After whittling down the handles and putting the pieces together the thing worked just like the real one! Neat! The barbedwire was made by wrapping wire around finished spool and then adding barbs to the last foot or so. The hammer...well, it's just a hammer. The fence pliers were made to match the ones I used when putting up my fence. The staples are just bent pieces of wire and the can was made like I made the cup for the Chuckwagon Cook. The label on the can was painted and then applied.

If you could look down from the top you'd see that the hole he is digging goes down almost all the way to the bottom of the lower base. I put all the pieces together before any finish was applied and drilled the hole.

I spent a lot of time on the figure to make it match the digger. To do that I carved the arms and hands separate so the hands could be rotated to match the digger. It would have been almost impossible to do it otherwise.

All in all it turned out to be a real 'classic' and was given as a Christmas Present to a Rancher in West Texas. It was kind of expensive and he kept coming back to look at it over and over during the three days we were at a show in Amarillo. About ten minutes before the show closed he came back one more time and I was sure he was going to carry it off. He didn't! However, about 5 minutes later his wife showed up and made the purchase. She later told me that on Christmas day he about passed out when he opened the box. He said it was the best gift he'd ever received. It's events like that that make carving worthwhile. Not for the money received but for the reward of something you created being really appreciated.

[Thomp]

Guess i have never sold a carving due to the last sentence in your post,

" Not for the money received but for the reward of something you created being really appreciated."

Only family see my work, usualy if someone takes an intrest in a particular carving they wind up with it

[Irish]

Lynn,

I know you are talking about the small details of this carving ... but I think it's the body language that you captured that really makes the piece fantastic.

You have his back curved, his hips forward, his legs spread slightly and just the right touch of droop to his shoulders. Anyone who has been on the business end of a post hole diggers knows that it gets you right in the lower back ... your position is just perfect!

I 'feel' the coming pain when that poor gets back to the bunk house. It's a hot bath and then down on the floor with his knees bent to get the kinks out.

Just great!

Susan

[Myron Compton]

I can believe the guy about passed out. What a wonderful gift. I need to have my wife read this story.....Thanks.....Myron

[Chahlie]

Hi All,

Lynn...what can be said that hasn't been already said many times! Simply "AWESOME", "WELL DONE MY MAN". I am gonna have to get back into active carving ....I should start with that chicken I want to do for my FNP. Make Her day and all!

always like to read your postings Lynn!

Chahlie

[squbrigg]

Lynn, I can understand that customers reaction. The detail in your work is what makes it stand out, to me. You capture the essence of the scene, and as Susan mentioned, it's the body language that hits you. Keep up the great work, it is a true inspiration to many of us.

Bob

[whitecree]

Ooooooohh - me achin' back!

I know exactly how that cowboy feels, having spent one long, hot, dusty summer on an uncle's farm replacing a couple miles of barbed wire. That style of post-hole digger must have been designed by a masochist.

Great work Lynn. If I got that as a gift, not only would I keel over in shock, but I'd be speechless for a week.

[tgamble57]

I would not know how to act if I recived something like that. Lynn you catch it all so well it's unreal

[dart]

Very well done. I think details matter too.