[squbrigg]

Glad it helped Ash. Getting the lions face correct will make a good staff great! Looking forward to seeing your progress! I'll learn much from your work.

Bob

[Ashbys]

I think with what I know now , if I do another I will drop the face lower into the staff to give a high line for the mane to stand a bit higher over the head.

But you learn as you go =)

Now to figure out what else to add to the staff .

Ash

[squbrigg]

Ash....how about a profile of another lion (lioness actually) below that one, the mate!

Bob

[Ashbys]

Great minds think alike !

I was sitting here trying to decide if I wanted to do another lion in the staff, or to set the lion up as a headdress for a greek / roman soilder type thing. which could eaisly run a theme for the staff for the rest of the staff . The base I know I am using the lion claw theme , in the chipendale style. That would be just to good to pass up .

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Chip and Dale? you aren't going to put those little guys with a lion are you?

[carver6]

Gosh Hi Ho.......Lions get hongry too. Need at least a snack once in a while.
Garon

[Colin_Partridge]

Looks great to my Gary anything carved for children and grandchildren always ends up being me best carvings. Look forward to seeing this one finished.
Colin

[Ashbys]

Thanks all.
DAve Dave Dave .... lol

But chip and dale .........

Ash

[Ashbys]

Well,
I decided what to do , and if nothing else it will be the most unique staff I have ever done.

I spent a couple of days just bashing my head against the wall to decide what I really wanted to do with the staff.

Well here is what I decided, I am doing the 12 labors of Hercules on the staff.
The first was the Lion so the lion head is the first carving ,
the second labor was the 7 headed Hydra. I used the Lion head back and twisted the hydra around the staff with the single head into the front center then knoted the rest of the heads up in behind the lion.
The third labor was to capture an extreamly large stag. So the horns of the Stag support the Hydra. And by using just the head and shoulders , it allowed for me to set of the 4th labor.
The forth Labor was to capture a wild boar that was destroying a village and killing the people.

Anyway these 4 labors are roughed in and only 8 to go

Garry

[Ashbys]

The fifth labor was cleaning the stable , so I made a column building that you could see through for the stables , I intend to go back and detail the top and the edge .

The sixth trail was the clearing of the birds , they were birds with brass claws and Iron beakes with pointed arrow feathers. I put four birds around the staff and interlocked them beak to beak and wing to wing.

anyway here are the pics as to how it looks about half way done.