Whatcha Carvin" ???

[Thor]

Al, How very clever on the cane! I really like the owl in the knothole. Do this and the owl have symbolic meaning? I like seeing how the artist thinks when applying special symbols for individuals.
Lovely work with a perfect amount of color.
Thor

[Kenny_S]

The use of light and dark together brought this cane together Plus the flower is prettiful..

[AlArchie]

Wish I could say there was some severe symbolism, here, but it just so happens that I like the wild rose motif, and the owl???, well, I sort of like owls too, and I have been using these for instructional projects for the Scouts. In it's basic form, it's called a five minute owl, and can be done with about a dozen stop and straight cuts. This guy was refined a little more, but the basic pattern is the same. I had to reduce the size by 1/3 to get it to fit into the knot hole, but that was an easy transfer.

Karen said I chose the owl because her cousin is a wise old bird....I kinda like that, too!

The cane itself was cut a few years ago by a dear friend who passed away about a year ago. I have about a half dozen more of his "gatherings" and hope I can do justice to his efforts. One more is gelling in my mind now, a similar cane that will have either an oak leaf/acorn or maple leaf and flutter-seed random pattern with a small mouse peeking out of the knot hole. Maybe some small mousie footprints running into the knot hole.

Roy was one of the best cane carvers I have seen anywhere, and it almost seems sacreligious to attempt to work along similar designs, but his efforts have seemed to find my fingers for continuation. He was very adroit at floral, leaf, incised pattern work, and patriotic motifs. Far more than I can accomplish, but if I can continue his floral and leaf motifs and add a few of my small critters, I'll feel good about it!

Al

[Ashbys]

AL,

Excellent work , and a great trubite. I am sure he would be very pround of your comments.

Ash

[AlArchie]

Thanks, everyone, for the compliments. Roy was the one who gave me instructions on how to develop the patterns. We are leaving for a few weeks to attend to Karen's aunt who in now in hospice care and not expected to live much longer. When Karen and I get back, we have a "date" with Roy's widow, to go over some of his work and maybe go out for dinner. I'll ask her if it's OK for me to take some pictures of his work and post it here. It is really extrordinary, and quite unique among the many cane and stick carvers I have met.

Al

[Ashbys]

I had a bit of time this morning so , I went out found a tree and now Oh-LaLa lives in my trees at home . ed him in the galleries.
Ash

[Thor]

Oh-LaLa is well named Ash. I'm glad you get to live with one of your "men in trees".
Thor

[Ashbys]

Thanks Thor! Glad you like him.

My wife asked what I was going to put into the maple tree in front of my house. She said I guess anything is ok as long as it isn't a nude.
Well me and my big mouth, I said "Damn and I was thinking of putting a big brested woman in it and call it Wishful Thinking! " Star Wars

I am moving the dog into my house now. I Will probley be in his for about two weeks

Ash

[jamesfa]

have been feeling a little left out lately,what with all the great pieces of carving that have been posted.my problem is i start to many projects and have a lot of works in progress but nothing gets finished.

but thanks to a article in WCI by Alfie Fishgap have finally finished some spirit lures and a moonmask.

[Irish]

jamesfa,

Wonderful, useful, and decorative too! I love old decoy ice fishing carvings but hadn't thought about actually making one with the hooks as a lure. Great color job!

As for starting a bunch of stuff that we never finish, I think that everyone has a closet somewhere full of such projects. It's just that most of us don't admit it.

Susan