missing the message board ,and

[woodtrapper]

I recently had some DSL problems and have been off the net for a bit.It is a amazing how hooked you can get reading all the threads.Anyway,I had put this piece of yellow locust in the photo gallery and hoping for some constructive criticism.Then my DSL crashed. I love carving wood spirits and carving sleepy eyes but I am having problems with the eyes.Any recomendations would help.

[Callynne]

Woodtrapper, I looked over in the Gallery and couldn't find the yellow locust piece. There was a piece done in poplar though and it looked very good. Definitely like he was sleeping.

The only thing I'd try for the next one is to have the upper eyelid larger than the bottom. Try looking in the mirror, close one eye and look at it with the other one, see how the upper eyelid is larger and very domed looking, the center of the eyelid is foremost, the corners rounded back into your face? Try doing it like that and see if it is more what you had in mind.

My problem is in doing eyes that are looking down, like they are looking at something. I always end up with them still looking too awake and straight forward.

I know, we need Susan to do an 'eye series', that would be great, wouldn't it??! Hint, hint Susan! Talking Deborah

[woodtrapper]

Deborah,I posted that piece as poplar but I have since found out it is yellow locust.I do appreciate your input on the eyes.Sometimes a picture does not do it for me.I'll close one eye and look.I also pulled up your sight and and enjoyed your carvings.The eyes are very realestic.The man carving the bear reminds me of a chainsaw carver who carves bears for tourists.Thanks again.

[Thomp]

wood trapper,

ill be danged if i can find the picture ither, i searched woodtrapper and both kinds of wood,,,,

please put us old fougy's a link for it ? by right clicking the image go to propertys copy the address and paste it in a message....
thomas

[woodtrapper]

Originally Posted by Thomp

wood trapper,

ill be danged if i can find the picture ither, i searched woodtrapper and both kinds of wood,,,,

please put us old fougy's a link for it ? by right clicking the image go to propertys copy the address and paste it in a message....
thomas

Thomas, It is in the photo gallery under member gallery under (W).There are three pictures. Davy.

[Thomp]

you mean this feller...
If that wood was as hard as i think it was it was like carving petrified wood locus is one of the harder woods especaily black locus, aumish folk use it soly for post & beam construction making pegs out of it.
grandpaw said that black locus fence posts would last 3 years longer than the hole they was set into...

i dont know how your tools faired through the carving but you ought to have that face around for a really long time.
looks like it would make a really great walking stick topper to me...

how big is it again?

[Kenny_S]

Thomp, That is what we say about Osage Orange/hedge around these parts.

Harder than rocks and are planted in a roll were you don't need any fenceing. The truth is, You can't get between the truncks of the trees when they mature and you sure don't walk bare footed around them either. That wood as ruined a many of chain saws and has dulled/bruned Gang saw saw blades at a many of saw mills.
But boy are there some pretty yellow wood. Indians made bows out of the limbs and there are a few bow makers still using Osage Orange her in SEK, NEOk.
Yep the holes are gone but the posts are still thereWink

[woodtrapper]

Thomas, You and kenny are right about the locust being very hard.I still own a home in Kentucky and have an old tobacco barn that is close to 100 years old.It held up by locust post and the post look as if it petrified.I have some really nice pieces of locust drying in the woods right know that will take two to three people to bring it in. the root system is intertangly and very heavy.As for the carving I did, the bulk of the wood was removed buy a new set good stanley chisels.I had to use a regular hammer and layed it to it.Maybe most carvers would not go to the trouble as I have but my back yard is all hardwoods.The size of of the head is 24" high and 16" wide.I fine tuned the face with 10" stubai chisels and did not damage a one.Oh, it probably weighs 15lbs.

[Thomp]

looks like a good job considering the material,
im still working on some christmas orniments i started from little shavers, of course it was before i bought any basswood and i had some beach or maple cut to the right dementions, never the less i didnt get tired of carving i got tired of sharpening and honing my apperently cheap tools...
i would love to get some of the osage orange for a new razor knife i was reshaping a straight razor into, dont know if ill ever get it done such a slow process to do it without overheating the metal...

i thought of buying a slab of mircardia or packawood but im thinking miskeet or osage would give me what i wanted for a look..

later
thomas