Another bass update...finally

AlArchie · #1 09-03-2006, 06:30 PM

I know this has been a long time coming, but there have been a whole plethora of other stuff happening around here, and I haven't had a chance to get at this thing. anyway, here's where it stands now. All the primary painting is done, the scene is set (but not locked in yet) and it's ready to get the final paint touchups applied, and then the finish. The toothpick is just there to hold the crawdad temporarily in place.

It will be about two more weeks before I can get back at this so it will still be a while....tolja I was slow!

The fish carving inquiry prompted me to get these posted. Looking forward to seeing the new member's (ej's)postings.....can always pick up a few tips.

Al

Claude · #2 09-03-2006, 07:28 PM

Looks great, Al!

Claude

bygeorge · #3 09-03-2006, 07:48 PM

Al, nice work! Looking forward to seeing the final scene.

if you don't mind, how did you make the lily pads?

Chuck

AlArchie · #4 09-03-2006, 09:07 PM

Chuck, the lily pads were cut from .015 brass sheet. I then marked the veins in the pads and cut a piece of 1/8th inch drill rod and bent it to the approximate shape of the veins. Laying the drill rod on the marked veins, on the top of the pad, I gave it a good whack with a ball pein hammer, forming the vein.

The stalks are cut from 1/4" copper rod and brass tube. I drilled two holes through the copper rod, where I was going to mount the bass to, and silver soldered in two short pieces of 1/8" drill rod, to be placed into the side of the fish.

The very top 1/2 inch of each rod and tube is flattened and bent over , ground to shape and silver soldered ontothe bottom of the pad.

Each pad was primed with white auto primer, then given a medium hauser green solid coat, brushed away from the stem toward the outside edge, following the veins' pattern. Then I washed on several coats of Indian red and red iron oxide.

Thanks for the good words, but don't hold your breath on a finish!

Al

love2carve2 · #5 09-03-2006, 10:23 PM

Al,
He looks fantastic!! You have done an outstanding job on the whole thing. It is worth the wait to see how you are progressing with it. Just amazing.
Mary

jax · #6 09-03-2006, 10:53 PM

Al,

Terrific carving and presentation, but why did you use two bases instead of one? Also why the use of bark instead of a plain base? Curious.

Jax.

AlArchie · #7 09-04-2006, 12:02 AM

Good question, Jax! Actually the base was the inspiration for the whole piece. It isn't two pieces, but a single cut from a basswood tree that had a branch growing out from between where the cuts were made. This was given to me by the widow of a good friend, and I thought it would make a good setting for a fish persuing prey. The separate sections for the two inferrs an escape, rather than a capture.

I don't know, I just thought the bark gave it a nice rustic appearance. The bark has several areas of lichen still attached where it had been growing. To make sure the lichens stayed firmly attached, I gave the base, bark and all several heavy coats of Cabot's sanding sealer. The top surface was sanded and steel wooled (0000) between sealer coats and then again between three finish coats.

I'm far from happy with the appearance of the bass yet, but it will come around. It just needs some refining and tweaking of the scale patterns, jaw and mouth color, belly color and fin blending. I also need to adjust the spine color and dorsal fin shading.

Oh, I'm also open to suggestions on color or pattern adjustments.
Al

Phaeton · #8 09-04-2006, 05:09 PM

I have been following this fish from the beginning..

..it's a Great carving Al...

Bill
^v^

jax · #9 09-04-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlArchie

Good question, Jax! Actually the base was the inspiration for the whole piece. It isn't two pieces, but a single cut from a basswood tree that had a branch growing out from between where the cuts were made. This was given to me by the widow of a good friend, and I thought it would make a good setting for a fish persuing prey. The separate sections for the two inferrs an escape, rather than a capture.

I don't know, I just thought the bark gave it a nice rustic appearance. The bark has several areas of lichen still attached where it had been growing. To make sure the lichens stayed firmly attached, I gave the base, bark and all several heavy coats of Cabot's sanding sealer. The top surface was sanded and steel wooled (0000) between sealer coats and then again between three finish coats.

I'm far from happy with the appearance of the bass yet, but it will come around. It just needs some refining and tweaking of the scale patterns, jaw and mouth color, belly color and fin blending. I also need to adjust the spine color and dorsal fin shading.

Oh, I'm also open to suggestions on color or pattern adjustments.
Al

AL,
Thanks for the reply, I was curious about the base, normally they are generally one piece indicating a sandy river, etc....your explanation clears it up... no suggestions on the bass or habitat, it's A-1 !

Jax.

Irishman · #10 09-04-2006, 09:40 PM

Wow there's some detailing on that carving - very life like..excellent carving.
Patrick