[Gloops]

Hi all,

The spaniel has had to go on the back burner, just had a request for a stick with a greyhound topper for a Birthday present, so will try to post as much of the life of a stick as I can if you are interested.

When doing a dog head topper reference photos of the dog for colour unusual markings are invaluable, but the basic head shape is usually common, so when at car boot, garage sales and markets I specifically look for the Leonardo collection of dog ornaments and have picked numerous ons up on my travels, see pic. of grehound -

this model helps me in 2 ways

first I photograph the head -side view-top view-front and back

these are imported int Sketchbook Pro app on mi iPad and manipulated and printed to give me the pattern for sticking to my block.

Now to cut the blank from the block on the bandsaw:-

Blank cut ---To be continued

 

[CV3]

Nice presintaion Goolps. Look forward to seeing it develop.

 

[cobalt]

certainly saves a lot of work with the chisels working this way. Always good to have the masking tape handy

well presented gloop I work in a similar fashion but don't always tape it back together which does cause more work

 

[Gloops]

When band sawing the block I don't take the cuts through to completion, leave approx 3mm 1/8" this way having cut the side profile it is still a block I add the tape more for safety than necessity, it is only on the second plan view cut that you cut completely thro'.

just needs a little planning of the first cuts so as to keep the block steady and safe for second cut.

I sometimes cut the volume under the throat out but leave 6mm 1/4" base plate this just reduces the amount of material to cut when swapping to plan view especially if using a hard wood.

 

[Gloops]

certainly saves a lot of work with the chisels working this way. Always good to have the masking tape handy

well presented gloop I work in a similar fashion but don't always tape it back together which does cause more work

I try not to completely cut thro' but leave approx 3mm 1/8" still attached, tape it more for safety so I don't have to hold it to prevent it opening up while cutting the other view, just needs abit of thought before cutting.

 

[MJC4]

great progress pics. it will be fun to follow to completion and I always learn something along the way

 

[Gloops]

Managed time at the bench yesterday, a little more progres:

The first pic. shows using the cut off waste from cutting out the pattern

The second advantage of having the model dog is that I can use my proportional dividers to upscale from the model to my carving (can also be used to downscale).

This helps to maintain the correct ratio's of the anatomy if the ratio's are right it will look righrt

The proportional have a adjustable pivot point so that a specific size ratio between the two ends can be set - avaluable tool in carving.

 

[cobalt]

nicely done .I also use dividers never thought to mention them a big asset .

 

[Gloops]

Greyhound a bit more profiling rond eye ,snout area . Studding fitted and shank drilled and top 5mm cut off and mounted at the shank joint to give me a guide for reducing the neck to.

 

[CV3]

Well done Gloops. I also us the dividers a lot. As can be seen in your picture the help us keep proper proportions I and not thought of sharing either. Glad you showed them.

 

[Whiteroselad]

Lovely work, I am looking forwards to the next stages. N.

 

[Gloops]

nicely done .I also use dividers never thought to mention them a big asset .

Hi Cobalt , did'nt realise you were a user of "Proportional Dividers", mine are a throwback from my days on a drawing board before calculators and computers, invaluable in producing scale drawings, and resurrected to use in my carving for up/down scaling from models,pictures etc. all carvers should have a set.

 

[cobalt]

nowerdays i tend to draw freehand then make a templet from the drawings but just use the dividers to check measurements like eyes etc its useful for aligning things up a and checking thickness of the top of the heads to centre of heads length of beaks etc. of waterfowl

Biggest problem is getting good reference materials looking down on the top of head and a full front and good side views.

I do have a 2 exceptional books now for reference which gives front side top and upper views of the beaks etc. and contains something like 20 different species both male and female

 

[Gloops]

nowerdays i tend to draw freehand then make a templet from the drawings but just use the dividers to check measurements like eyes etc its useful for aligning things up a and checking thickness of the top of the heads to centre of heads length of beaks etc. of waterfowl

Biggest problem is getting good reference materials looking down on the top of head and a full front and good side views.

I do have a 2 exceptional books now for reference which gives front side top and upper views of the beaks etc. and contains something like 20 different species both male and female

Which books do you have, as you say top views are difficult to find thats why I collect models/ornaments to use as maquets.

re the dividers are we talking about the same thing proportional dividers are primarily used for scaling, they are double ended with an adjustable center pivot so that the ends can be set to give exact scale ratio's i.e. 1:1 2:1 3:1 or any scale in between. Once they have been set you measure the maquet with one end and the other end is then the up or down scale for your carving.

See attached pic. these are currently set for my greyhound whic is upscaled frof my model at aratio of 1:2 ie the model is 1 and my carving is twice thew size.

This way I measure the model with narrow end flip over and transfer directly to carving, one set, all features can be transferred between model and carving.

 

[cobalt]

they look like a very good quality set of instiments much better quality than mine .

I have been looking for mine put them down somewhere cant find them to photo hope I haven't thrown them out with rubbish

The books I mentioned are "Decorative Decoy Carvers ultimate painting and pattern guide " by Bruce Burk Published by Fox Chapel Publishing.

Think theses are the best books I have seen on the subject. It gives the full pattern's of the ducks both male and female life size.

The painting advice doesn't work for me as I use a different type of paint and its based on a American product

series one book is about dabbling and whistling ducks and has 21 patterns in both of male and female ducks

series two is based on diving ducks and has 21 patterns in it again both male and female .The paper is very good quality and its ring bound

There isn't any carving instructions just patterns with painting guide some of the patterns have the heads in several different positions which is handy. the illustrations some are coloured and of a very good quality even gives advice and patterns of the underside of the beak.

I got them of Amazon for a very good price don't know if you can still get them but I think they where very good value .and gives useful decorating tips.

I certainly recommend them to anyone interested in carving decoys or just the heads for toppers I will try to post pictures when I find the camera.

 

[Gloops]

they look like a very good quality set of instiments much better quality than mine .

I have been looking for mine put them down somewhere cant find them to photo hope I haven't thrown them out with rubbish

The books I mentioned are "Decorative Decoy Carvers ultimate painting and pattern guide " by Bruce Burk Published by Fox Chapel Publishing.

Think theses are the best books I have seen on the subject. It gives the full pattern's of the ducks both male and female life size.

The painting advice doesn't work for me as I use a different type of paint and its based on a American product

series one book is about dabbling and whistling ducks and has 21 patterns in both of male and female ducks

series two is based on diving ducks and has 21 patterns in it again both male and female .The paper is very good quality and its ring bound

There isn't any carving instructions just patterns with painting guide some of the patterns have the heads in several different positions which is handy. the illustrations some are coloured and of a very good quality even gives advice and patterns of the underside of the beak.

I got them of Amazon for a very good price don't know if you can still get them but I think they where very good value .and gives useful decorating tips.

I certainly recommend them to anyone interested in carving decoys or just the heads for toppers I will try to post pictures when I find the camera.

Thanks for the book info and hope you find your dividers

 

[Rodnogdog]

Gloops, the greyhound is looking good and I am very interested in you dividers. I have never seem any like those; I'm going to have to look those up.

 

[cobalt]

a sample of the book i mentioned

hope it is of use .Amazon still.The price has shot up price range from £17 -24

 

[Ron T]

Gloops, very nicely presented, step-by-step of your carving. I also like your inclusion of the divider, picture and instructions on its use. Thank you.

 

[Gloops]

Gloops, the greyhound is looking good and I am very interested in you dividers. I have never seem any like those; I'm going to have to look those up.

Hi, yes "Proportional Dividers" are invaluable whne working from models and pictures ( I also can scale on my printer which as good for producing patters),

there are plenty on ebay - quality is as usiual dependant on purse strings.