Post #198782 by SilverLine on Fri, Nov 18, 2005 6:04 AM

I'm certainly not a person to learn from, but maybe I can get some advice on how this could have been better.

I started with a Catalpa log about 30" tall and an idea to copy the first photo in BOT. (I just copy stuff; I don't have the imagination to think things up outa thin air . . yet. Besides, I have no idea what I'm doing.)

I started buy drawing on the image on the log, then rough-in the cuts. I hadn't figured out how to make the nose stand out by trimming down everything else, so my noses always turn out small.

So here it is all roughed in. By this time I realized that I hadn't made the face broad enough (a recurring problem with me). I still think in 2D and always seem to put the face on the front 1/4 of the log only. Well, back to the draw-knife to trim him down some.

Not great, but better . . and on to the teeth and lots of sanding.

Catalpa has really dark, walnut-like heartwood so I had to go with a dark stain. I highlighted the eyes and teeth by lightly sanding after the stain. Then finished with spar varnish (had to be weather-proof).

It's a simple design, and I like it, but it doesn't kick me in the pants like I'd hoped it would and I don't know why. Oh well, on to the next one . . learning as I go.