Add ons

[BobD]

Another topic out there where people were talking about carving pieces from a solid block of wood brought a question to my mind.

How do the board members in general disguise add ons. Ian Norbury, who usually attaches hands and arms for strength and durability, hides his joints behind shirt cuffs, or ruffles, and things like that.

I usually only use add ons where the grain direction changes dramatically (can't think of an exact circumstance, but if I were having a hillbilly holding a gun...I'd carve the gun and glue it in place.

Bob

[Donna_T]

Bob,
I haven't used the process very often but when I have, it's like you mentioned, hidden at natural hiding places: hands, sleeves, collars,etc. A gun that's carried is a perfect example as is a golf club being held or a fish in the mouth of a bear. Even when I've carved birds where their heads are turned and beaks are often totally different grain, I still prefer to do it with one piece, although it takes more care and attention.

I do like to carve an animal on a base of rocks as one piece--have even done an owl on rock base as one piece.

Donna T

[Lynn O. Doughty]

When I attached a piece such as an arm I also try to hide the glue line with a fold or where two pieces of clothing meet, i.e., shirt to vest. For guns, feathers, rifles, lassos, etc. I just do it like it would happen in a real situation. A lasso in the hand of a real person is still separate from the hand. the hand is only holding it. An Indians headband just rests on the head and would probably fall off if he bent over as no self-respecting Native American would use a bobbypin to hold his headband in place. So to get that same look I make the head band seperate. The same is true with a Kowboy's hat...it might be pulled tightly down on his head but it's still seperate. I hide that joint by carving the hat so that it sets down on his head the same way with the glue line hidden up underneath and inside the hat.

I use a lot of wooden dowels to hold just about ever joined or attached piece in place so that once the glue sets up it's there forever. People always ask if my figures are one piece and I always answer "They are now!"