[Donna_T]

Squbrigg,
Once I decide to do an animal, and determine the pose, and get it cut out, I get the ole pencil out and start drawing in the major muscle groups and bone structure. That way I know where joints (that may be hidden beneath fur) really go so I can get them bent correctly. I set in the muscle groups--the highs and lows--and then start roughing in the body. I used to wait and do the head last -- mostly because it is the hardest to do and the part that draws the most attention-- but now I get it roughed in fairly quickly, including eyes and nose. Let's face it, if I'm not satisfied with the head, and there's nothing I can do to salvage it, why waste time on the rest of the body.

When I carve animals, I don't smooth out the carving first. I use a veiner to work it down in the general flow of the fur--that way I already have the basis for the fur.

I agree about the photos. I'd either take some photos of the dog in the various poses you want to consider--or find photos of other comparable dogs in those poses.

Good luck and let us know how you do with the project.

Donna T

[squbrigg]

Thanks Hugh and Donna T,

I did the photo thing to start the project, in the pose I wanted, snapped front, back, top, left and right sides. Then I sketched her....both from the photos and from life, doing several sketches of each, each getting progressively better and more detailed. From a circle sketch (like a stick drawing, but using circle, sausage shapes) to finally a fine sketch to capture the hair patterns. Just really, to fix it in my mind.

I like the idea of the muscle groups, that would give the under-lying contours of the body and will effect the lay of the fur too. The Lori Irish book goes into the muscular workings of the wolf...and that is the closest I can find in shape. So I'll study that.

The pose is natural too....it's the one she most often assumes when ever she's with me....unless she goes to sleep. And she's always with me. Even when I'm carving, she heads for the basement door when I put my shop shoes on and waits for me. She loves it down there, it's cooler than the rest of the house, and generally quiet, besides, she has the same taste in music as I do! Her cage is down there, but I leave her door open most of the time. Only close it if I'm using a power tool. That's her space and she loves it...lays there in that relaxed curl for hours, watching me carve.

I have the blank glued up, and the head positioned, so I guess I have no excuse not to get started. :-/

It will take me a while, but I have all kinds of time. Am finishing a couple of other projects too....a tool chest that I began almost a year ago, continue work on the Shannon model, I'm three years into that one, and I've begun work on a new half model. So lots to keep me busy. Good therapy for me.

Thanks for the tips folks.

Bob

[big_Wayne_P]

how are you coming with the carving of your dog

been thinking about ordering me a roughout of a lab and carve it to look like my dog

[squbrigg]

Haven't got beyond the glued up rough out....yet. Been trying to finish up a few other jobs, finally finished my tool chest project today. That one took the better part of a year to finish. So many things I want to do, just can't seem to get to them all.

Bob

[Mitchell]

Bob, I carved a boxer pup once and it turned out, well, okay. The picture is saved on my computer at work, but I will try to post it tomorrow. I would suggest doing two carvings. I know it will take more time, but you could follow the first carving with another to "fix" any areas that you are not satisfied with. I do this sometimes for "important" carvings that I am not too sure on. This technique works for me, because it lets me be a little more aggressive with the first carving. Most of the time, it turns out good and I don't even have to do the second. It worked for the boxer pup. I later carved the second blank......only to like the first better!

[big_Wayne_P]

that must be some fancy beautiful tool chest to take a year to do

[squbrigg]

Na....I just keep screwing up the cuts and have to keep re-doing it. Measure twice and cut once, may be a good motto, but with me, it's usually measure six times and cut twelve! And it's still too short! I must have gone through a truck load of Cherry!

It was an exercise to improve my basic woodworking skills. I obviously need more exercise! The carved top and drawer front pieces are designed to draw attention away from the poor joinery!!!

Bob

[squbrigg]

Big Wayne....I finally got started on that dog. Tried to do some hand carving with a Flexcut curved knife, but found it too slow and required strength that I just couldn't sustain, so I switched to power carving the rough shape using a Foredom and carbide burrs. I'm making progress, and learning, but there's a big learning curve to this. I'm a long way from finished, from even having the basic shape yet, but I do have a start.

Bob

[big_Wayne_P]

I did one of my dog as a cane handle
took several different pattrerns and modified them
till I had 1 that sort of resembled my mutt

Did it out of a piece of pine 2 X 6

I had to use a jig saw
power carver both rotary and recripocating
till I got it down to close to the right size

I think he is mixed with a black lab and something else
Rather than make his ears styand up a little like they should
I have them down and against his head

After all this is supposed to be a cane handle
For the stik itself
i used and old wood broom handle

Since he is black i painted him black
that and the fact that the grain from that piece of
2 X 6 looked funny on a dog head
After the black dried I applied 3 coats of water base polly
think I actually used the stick 2 times
I have sold other sticks but this 1 is not for sale

Bottom pic is what it looked like before paint