Willow Tree Carving

[Colin-Partridge]

Hi Gang,
I know you would think after just getting back from the west coast I would take a few days off. Not so I am four commissions behind now and I have to catch up. I just started this Willow tree today. It is probably the biggest carving I have done. You cant tell from the picture but the tree is about 12 feet tall and about three feet across. the hardest thing about willow is to stop it growing after you have cut it down. This tree was cut down last fall and look at the new growth already. The bark is very thick about one and half inches thick so it is a bit of a challenge. Now I was only supposed to do one face in the tree, now the customer would like an additional two faces in the two limbs where the growth is. So tomorrow I will be putting in the other two faces. This is a work in progress so maybe I should have posted it there. I hope to have it completed by friday so I will update it tomorrow when I get back.
Colin

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

No rest for the weary! thats going to be a good one!

[love2carve2]

Looks great Colin. I really like him and can't wait to see his brothers.
Mary

[GeorgiaCarver]

I really enjoy seeing your work. I have also seen your post on the carvingpost forums! Is the will a soft wood to carve? Looks like it but it also seems to hold the detail really well. Of course a carving that big the smallest detail cuts are huge.

Please post the finished work.

p.s. do you leave the tree in the ground or do you cut it off? If you leave it how do you kill it?

Greg

[GaryMc]

Looks great Colllin, want to see the finshed peice!
GaryMc

[bygeorge]

Colin, as usual, really nice work. Looking forward to seeing the progress on the other two.

Chuck

[Lynn O. Doughty]

That is really impressive. Are they going to let that tree continue to grow? Have you ever carved a face on a living tree, aside from this one, and if so how did the tree and face hold up over time. Would really be interested in seeing a picture of an older carving on a living tree.

[Ron Davidson]

Great job as usual Colin. Glad to have you back how was the competition?

[squbrigg]

Boy, you don't waste any time do you? Well done son!!! The new growth gives the effect of your spirit growing hair.
Great job so far.

Bob

[wade clark]

the Old Man In The Willow! Great job!
Willow is prolific. I've read that it has an enzyme, I believe, that you can soak fresh willow bark in water and get limbs of other trees that normally can't be rooted from cuttings to root in that water.
Enjoy your day!
Wade