Get ideas here

[jmischel]

I'm forever searching for good pictures of little animals to carve. Searching Google Images is okay, but most often I get just one view of the subject. Today I ran across a site that I can use to get multiple views of a subject.

For example, this page http://www.sportslinkup.com/shop/0-cat-figurine-1-GALLERY.html gives thumbnails of a bunch of cat figurines that are listed on eBay. If you click on a thumbnail, you're taken to the eBay listing, which often has multiple views (front, side, back).

It's not limited to cats, of course. Enter a search for "elephant figurine" or "porcelain frog", and see what you get.

The pictures aren't patterns, in that you probably can't take one and make a bandsaw cutout. But they're great reference pictures for animals in different poses, and ideas for caricatures.

[Robson Valley]

Good point. Never thought of figurines. I'd rather start with a look at the real thing. BUT, the figurines can teach me what the original sculptor/sculptress decided they could leave out.
Look around here for posts and threads from a member: Howie. That guy can get right down to basic, illustrative body forms. Inadv (member) does the same. I don't get that far even by taking off my glasses.

fieldandstream.com is another great place to search.

Slow as I am to change, I now have a flat screen monitor for each computer. . . I just stick a sheet of paper on the monitor and trace some pictures. My other "light box" is the dining room window. Then it's off to the copy store to get my drawings in half a dozen different sizes.

[Dicky]

Thank you for the excellent tip. I have used windows and home made light boxes but this is the cat's meow.