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[Irish]

I was playing around this weekend with a folk art styled walking stick topper. Folk art is not my type of carving as I usually get in there and fuss everything way too much. So I thought I would post this where it's at ... before I ruin it

It's suppost to be a fish swallowing a snake swallowing an alligator swallowing a mouse ... and, yes, I do know that snakes don't have teeth ....

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated at this point especially if I should leave well enough alone or keep going with the fussy details.

Susan

[RoadKingMN]

Susan,
I think it looks great. I think too many details might very well ruin the look you have going.

Snakes do have teeth. A friend of mine had a python that had him in it's mouth up to his elbow. They have very sharp teeth that bend back to keep their prey moving towards their belly. They did a number on his arm. Took three guys to get it off of him. That night the snake went onto the porch in below zero weather. It made a really cool belt.

[squbrigg]

Looks great as it is. I wouldn't go any further with detail. Love the concept.

Bob

[Nancy-ID]

Very cool! Yup, leave it be now

[Kenny_S]

Amazing. Leave it alone!!!!!!! Maybe stain or paint. But looks great as it is now.

[mwilleson]

I fifth it. Leave it as is and finish it according to your preference.

I really like the look on the mouses face....you know he's thinking "...this isn't good!".

[Ron Davidson]

Susan I agree with the rest of them LEAVE IT ALONE!! Much more detail would over do it I think. It looks great the way it is. Fantastic job!!!

[AlArchie]

Great as it is, Susan, but my sense would be to work the mouse over, just a bit more.......not necessary, but.......


And I can attest to snakes having teeth, even the little green grass snakes and copper bellieis. Those and garter snakes will bite and leave small "U" shaped bite marks, but unless you pull away, they really won't do much damage. More starteling than dangerous!

That is one cool cane!

Al

[Irish]

Hey Gang,

Thanks for the very nice words! I do think I will restrict myself to dressing up the fuzzies and maybe rounding out the mouse more ... but keep my fingers away from the v-gouge for more detailing. I don't want to paint it until I have it joined to the stick.

I still don't think in 3-D and something like this often becomes a dry run to work a scond one once I can see where I went. I may try again as now that I can see the stick I am sorry that I didn't put a cricket or grasshopper in the mouse's mouth and then maybe a berry hanging from the grasshoper's feet. There's plenty of room on the back side of the gator for these additions.

If I work out a pattern I'll post it. I am sure that someone here could do the idea true justice.

Don't know how I forgot that snake have teeth .... Senior moment.

Thanks again, think I'll stick to relief carving

Susan

[Irish]

OK ... let's see if I can get this pattern uploaded. If anyone gets a chance to do one or their own version, please post it so I can see what a GOOD folk art cane looks like

Susan