[Lindy]

Hi everyone,

I decided to re-do the Derringer as I wasn't quite happy with the last one. This time I used water colour paper and then water colour pencils to create a few spots of colour. I still have to frame it, but I wanted to share it and get your comments, critiques, etc.

Thanks for looking.

Lindy

[Woodartist]

I really like the composition and details. Nice work. The pistol looks like a flint lock to me, and not a derringer. Not trying to be too critical, especially after the comments from your other post.

The pipes and maps really bring the burn to "life." Great pirate theme!!!

[Lindy]

Hey Bill, how are you? Thanks for your comments - don't worry, if it looks like a flintlock at least it looks like a gun of some sort. I can't take credit for the drawing as much as I would like to as it is one of Susan Irish's and I really love the composition of the piece. The first time I burned it I did it on Birch ply and when I waxed it, I felt like it looked like a piece of panelling, not quite my style so that's why I tried it again.

Be well!

Lindy

[Woodartist]

I'm hanging in there and getting ready to head South to Nevada for the winter. Wanted to visit my daughter in S. CA. but the fires may put a damper on that.

Well, Susan can chime in on the type of pistol I've made a few flint locks and it kind of looks like those. Regardless, an excellent subject and burn

[Woodartist]

There is a type of derringer that resembles your burn. I think I stand corrected http://www.apachego.com/lower/jp-lower.jpg

Here is a type "similar" to the ones I made: http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/Pi...4RightFull.jpg

[Irish]

Lindy, The burning is beautiful and the color details delightful! Very nice job!

You might try adding a thin layer of deep green to the red book binding behind the derringer. This would drop the intensity of the red slightly and push that book behind the derringer into the shadows. Plus it would give you a slight different between the red binding of the standing book that is in full light.

Then on your map if you tried a little dark red or dark red-purple on the map's green areas where the paper curls this would add a second area of shading for the map.

You can use thin layers of compliments over a color to create shadow tones.
As blue over orange, red over green or purple over yellows.

WoodArtist, Hopefully I am not about to shot myself in the foot - pun intended - it is a cap and ball percussion derringer not a flint lock.

The terms derringer, pistol or widow maker describes the design of the gun where the terms flint lock, cap and ball or cartridge describes how the spark is created to ignite and propel the bullet ...

This one is, as you described, made by my Hubby from a kit as are the other two in the photos. The photos are from a series of light box still life set up that I did specifically to create deep shadows in the images for wood burning. I wanted some designs that were very masculine - something you might find on a man's library shelf.

Susan

[Woodartist]

I corrected myself Susan and had a bit of trouble seeing the lock mechanism ( my problem). Mine are flintlocks and I have fired them. Love the old black powder stuff I really like the composition of what you did and I guess because it "is" masculine.

Yes, it is a derringer

[Irish]

Sorry Bill! Yes, you did correct yourself and I agree that at only 500 pixels wide it can be hard to tell when someone has add all of the beautiful detailing as Lindy did in this one. Sometimes I get so lost in looking at the tonal changes, fine lines and shadows that I forget to see the whole picture ...
great job Lindy!

My Dad was a gun collector and restorator. I think I have said here on the message board that often we had gun barrels hanging in the dining room window as they went through the bluing or browning process. And there were always butter tubs filled with oil and soaking parts that would later be cleaned up and reset in to the gun or rifle.

In fact I think I was around 8 when I fired my first Brown Bess. If my Dad had not been standing right behind me I would have ended up bottom down on the floor. I needed his help to fire it as the barrel was so much longer than my arms that he held the front end of the barrel while I pulled the trigger ... what a thrill.

Today one of my cherished treasures is a silver plated finely engraved widow maker that Dad gave me one Christmas. My brothers got 22 long rifles I think that year ?!? For those who don't know a Widow Maker was a one or two shot small hide-able pistol that was used for personal protection. They were inexpensive in construction but sometimes, as mine, the ornate work was quite spectacular. They were made to be used once and only once. Since many of them were as likely to blow up in the user's hands as kill their opponents they got the name of ... Widow Makers.

I love strong masculine designs and hopefully will be doing more. Sometimes even I get a little tired of fairies, flowers and scenery.

Susan

[Woodartist]

Well Susan, sounds like a great childhood I was a little guy and went with the male members of my family to a "turkey shoot." Shooting for scores at targets and the winner got a turkey. My uncle bought me a ticket and let me shoot his 12 gauge. It did knock me to the ground on my can. Of course everyone laughed, except me.

My great grandfather had a pair of matching pearl handled dueling pistols that he tossed into the sandwash after the kids kept getting at them. I only wish....................

Digression, but you hit a few nerves and memories

[Lindy]

Susan! I love those photo's!!! Now I have to do it one more time, now that I have the photo for reference plus use your suggestions on the colouring. Thanks by the way for your kind comments. I can't make the changes in colouring for that project as I already have it framed, but I definately will on the next one. Would it be okay if I used the other two photo's for a couple more projects? Personal use only.

Thanks again,

Lindy