loon carving

[fieldman]

Hi. I need some help....
I have carved a few loons and would like to put them on a board...any possibility to have the board looking like water?...
Thanks

I've never tried it but have been sorely tempted; there have been several first rate carvings of ducks, otters and gators swimming in water, all carved from one piece, and the ripples in the water look spectacular. If you'd asked tuesday, I could have gotten you a picture from our carving club library, but will need to wait till a week from Wednesday, if you''d want it.

Al

[David_Aaron_Sercel]

fieldman,

I just finished a Wood Duck on carved water.

Although I carved the duck and water out of one piece of wood this
time, I have done them speratly before.

If done separatly, I trace the shape of the bottom of the bird onto the
base. Then I draw in the ripples comeing out from the duck, paying
close attention to reference photos.

Then I will use either a shallow gouge or a power carver, depending
on the wood I am using, to carve in the ripples. Be sure not to touch
the traced in area where the duck will be sitting.

[fieldman]

Thanks Al..David
Of course Al.. I am not in a hurry and I would be glad to see what you can come up with.
David, I have some white ash that I tought I would use for a base...would you think it would be to hard to carve?..

[David_Aaron_Sercel]

I've never worked with ash before, but I have heard that it carves
pretty well.

P.S.

Here is a photo of how I laid out the ripples.

[Donna_T]

Thanks for sharing your carving with us, David. I really like how you did the water---so much better than just mounting on a flat surface. Good Job.
Donna T

[Callynne]

David, that's great, I love how you did the water! I've seen some on 'plastic' water but most ducks aren't on anything, looks really nice how you did it! Thanks for sharing! Callynne

[Colin-Partridge]

Dave,
Great job of the woodduck and the water really captured the smimming effect I think you should enter that one I have never seen one mounted with water before it looks very realistic. Not that I'm an expert but I think that is a woody isnt it?
Colin

[David_Aaron_Sercel]

Yes, it is a Wood Duck. The whole carving, including the water, is about
6 inches long.

Here are a few other views of it.

[fieldman]

Thanks David...
It looks like it is lot of work but it is certainly worth it, your carving look great...how high are those waves?..I will give it a try...as you know loons can blow up theirs feathers to float higher on the water....I think I will try the water carving on a cedar board first and if I like it I will try it with white ash....
Thanks again.