I do have a figural project in mind. I did a "wood spirit" decades ago. Not on a stick, but somewhat larger than life on a big slab of Douglas Fir. Seeing how many of the spirit sticks are out there now, I thought on the one hand it was almost an obligatory figure, but on the other that I didn't have much at all to add to the form.
But I've been pondering the image, and have come up w. something that might be worth the trouble. Last year I cut down some yew, and was thrilled by the reddish-orange color, and its fine grain. One of the better sticks should be ready to carve this summer. Also, I am in the final stages of finishing a pole made from hornbeam. While it is very hard, the grain is so fine I'm sure it will hold detail. I've been unable to find any more near me, and have searched for someone selling the wood. I see that one of the few uses for it is as the material for drum sticks.
So the pun came to mind that if I had another piece of hornbeam, it might be the appropriate wood for a "stick man." That is, a drummer. Perhaps some of you might now of a renowned, even notorious drummer named "Ginger" Baker. A very tall fellow, w. a craggy face that would be a good base for a "spirit" carved either in hornbeam or the gingery hued yew.
I've been collecting images. Here are 2.
Will be working up a composite from the several dozen pics I've found of him.
But I've been pondering the image, and have come up w. something that might be worth the trouble. Last year I cut down some yew, and was thrilled by the reddish-orange color, and its fine grain. One of the better sticks should be ready to carve this summer. Also, I am in the final stages of finishing a pole made from hornbeam. While it is very hard, the grain is so fine I'm sure it will hold detail. I've been unable to find any more near me, and have searched for someone selling the wood. I see that one of the few uses for it is as the material for drum sticks.
So the pun came to mind that if I had another piece of hornbeam, it might be the appropriate wood for a "stick man." That is, a drummer. Perhaps some of you might now of a renowned, even notorious drummer named "Ginger" Baker. A very tall fellow, w. a craggy face that would be a good base for a "spirit" carved either in hornbeam or the gingery hued yew.
I've been collecting images. Here are 2.

Will be working up a composite from the several dozen pics I've found of him.