[Callynne]

Â* Â* I put a picture of my redfox on the Picture Trail site, www.picturetrail.com Â*Member Name, carvers-R-us in the first album (I thought I was putting it in the second one...I get so confused! Â*:P ) Â*Also put side views of him on my www.photo.epson.com site just type callsr@csonline.net in the Visit Albums box, the album is called A Winter's Rest.
Â* Â* I put Treasure Crystal Coat on his eyes, you really can't see it that well but in 'real life' it makes them look 'real'. Â* Â*
Â* Â* That was my first attempt at snow, I tried all kinds of methods and ended up using a product called Tub O Snow from Delta, it looked better than anything else I tried....Dap, Dap and sawdust, sawdust and glue, etc., etc. Â*Anyhow, hope you like him, I'm glad to say my Dad did! Â* Callynne

Geez! He's beautiful! How big is he? I have a lynx I've been trying to get the guts to do but right nowe he's just a blank with the lines drawn on him. Never having done anything 'realistic', I'm hesitating getting started. The only advice I've received that I think I'll have to take is, 'go in knowing you'll probably have to do 3 of them'. Did you do your fox with knife/gouge only, or power too?

Nicely done,
Brian

[Callynne]

Â* Â* Thanks Brian, I think he's my favorite animal I've done so far. Â*I was afraid I'd gotten him too 'fat' but my hubby insisted that's just what they look like in the winter time. Â*Nice to have an expert living in the same house with me!
Â* Â* He's small, the entire carving is about seven inches by about five, just an estimate, Â*I didn't measure him. Â*I forgot to put a ruler by him when I took the pictures, my brother suggested that, said people in his office kept asking him how big things are when they look at the pictures. Â*Maybe someday I'll be as organized as Teri, she includes measurements in her descriptions...isn't she a wonder?!! Â*I'd say I want to be like her when I grow up but it's too late, I'm already way older! Ha! Ha!
Â* Â* As far as the guts to try something, I just dive into it and find out it's amazing what you can do if you start out too stupid to realize it's probably beyond your talents! Ha! Â*When I decided to try my hand at refinishing furniture the first thing I did was an upright piano. Â*Sort of tells you something, huh?!
Â* Â* I rough out using a reciprocating carver, the rest with knife and gouges. Â*I woodburn the hair. Â*I've always loved painting so that part is really easy for me. Â*Okay, better close and get busy, Father Christmas is calling for me to come finish painting him. Â*I'll post a picture of him when I get the film developed....I really would love a digital camera!! Â*Thanks again, Callynne

[mdallensr]

Calleyne, nice work! Are the fox and habitat all one piece? I'm pleased to see some more realistic animals in the gallery. Someday, when I grow up, I hope to be as good as many of the carvers who post here.

Callynne - BEEEEAUUUTIFUL!!!! THe snow looks great, too :-) Girl, your talents really amaze me.

As for growing up, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone around here. I've heard it's a bust.

Teri

Great work!! maybe someday I'll try something that detailed.....naaaawww I'm going back to my wood spirits and walking sticks soon. Only one more thing on my new years resolution and then I get to do 'comfort zone carving' again. lol

Good whittlin, Cliff
Charles City, Iowa
http://cliffordparker.tripod.com

Funny how we each find our 'comfort zone', isn't it? Dear Cliff went outside his 'zone' and carved a santa caricature that is now residing on my desk - he sure makes me smile every time I look at him (your ornament is on his way!)

So far, every time I've ventured outside my 'zone', it's been a disaster. I bought some cottonwood bark, to try my hand at carving some woodspirits...boy, oh boy, I'm not sure THAT's going to become a comfort zone for me...lol I look at some of the wonderful things you folks do around here, and I just shake my head in amazement.

Teri

[Callynne]

Â* Â* Yeah, but if you never go outside your comfort zone you just won't know what you're capable of....I just advise not going too far! Ha!
Â* Â* No, the fox and habitat are not the same. Â*I tried that with the bear that's in the 'My Woodcarvings' Album at the Photo Epson site. Â*It was my first in the round animal and what a pain...of course, I only had a couple tools then...have a 'few' more now! Â*
Â* Â* I carve the animal, then peg and glue them into the habitat. Â*The little four point buck I did I used pieces of toothpick for the pegs, that's how small his hooves and legs were, fun, fun!
Â* Â* Thanks for all the nice comments, I appreciate them! Â*Callynne

Callynne, you gave me just the push I needed...I started my Lynx last night. I'll post a pic if he doesn't end up looking like an elephant or something.

Thanx for the push,
Brian

Callynne - I agree with you, it's important to step outside the 'zone' every once in awhile, just to find out what else you CAN do. It keeps the fun in carving.

Teri