Tub Time -- Completed

Another challenging and delightful project completed. Now on to the next one!

Work in progress -- Tub Time

More progress ... it's getting there one chip at a time ! ....

work in progress-- Tub Time

When I can I like to design something that's not only sculptural but also has some practical use. This will be a fat man in a tub serving as a dish appropriate for candy, nuts, spare change, keys, etc. At first glance it might seem obvious that this would make a good soap dish but this wood is not going to hold up to constant wetness and soapiness. Maybe I'll make another in the future out of a more moisture friendly wood...

Caleb at 17 ... Completed

After some other necessary work got done I finally finished Caleb. The frame I made is Mahogany and the backing board is some black laminate I had laying around. All in all I'm happy with the result and I think the resemblance is there which makes me happy. Caleb likes it so I know I did okay.
As far as degree of difficulty it was by far the most difficult carving I've ever attempted. I liken it to climbing a mountain: it's arduous, physically and mentally, but also exhilarating when you reach the top. I've already started another portrait, this time a young woman, even more difficult... more on that later...

Custom "Satan Claus" finished

Here they are finished and ready for shipping. More tricksterish than demonic I think, which I think is what was wanted. They're twin brothers; daddy was a devilish type but momma was not so bad. Now I'll have to carve some angels to make up for this !! ...

Teufelsgeige Heads

A customer in Kansas asked me to make 2 heads for a teufelsgeige. The goal was to make a devil's head that also is a Santa Claus. Not too scary but hopefully edgy enough to fit the purpose. Here they're almost ready for painting. Hope he likes them. Everyone I've told about this has expressed horror and disbelief that anyone would want something like this but I like it. Something out of the ordinary to carve is always fun and challenging. Merry Christmas.

Home Stretch... Caleb at 17

Well it's getting really close. At this stage there's a lot of finicky shaving, the chips get smaller and smaller. It looks like him, but not quite all there. I'll post a comparison photo when it's done. There is so much subtlety to capturing a likeness that it seems it can slip away so easily. When I started I said I would be happy to have just a realistic representation of a person. I have to keep reminding myself of this. If it ends up looking like Caleb and captures some of his personality then that's gravy. Until next time...