The Devil

This is my take on a photo I found in one of  Ian Norbury's books Carving Facial Expressions (1997).

My guy is in camphor laurel 280mm x 220mm x 100mm and finished with shellac and wax.
Really enjoyed working on this piece (as I do with all carving) and I seem to have moved into this type of wall mask carving due to the availability  of the thickness of timber that I have access to. It is very hard to source large blocks for in-the-round carving.

This guy will now go to a gallery for display and hopefully sale.

Happy Carving,
Terry

Gargoyle

Hi,
This is my copy of a Don powell carving, that appeared in a issue of "Australian wood Review".
Don stated that he based his carving on a gargoyle from the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
For practice, I first carved a small version 120 mm high for the top of a walking staff, this gave me a feel for the subject. My gargoyle is in camphor laurel 300 mm high by 250 mm wide. I really like the color in this timber to high light the features of the gargoyle. The finish is my normal four stage process. Oil to pop the grain followed by a shellac sealer. Finished with a light coat of Crystal Clear and wax.
I really enjoyed carving this piece, I hope you like him .

Regards till next time

Terry

The month of May

Finaly have found some time to post my effort for May. I still have a walking staff under the knife to be finished and will show latter. My carving has slowed down some what after the burst after Xmas.
Anyway this wall mask is my take on a medival Foot Soldier.
The timber is camphor laurel 230 mm x 180 mm X 100 mm deep.
Not overly happy with the way the beard turned out,  seem to have lost focus there. if any one has a opinion on the beard, then please comment with some advice for me.
The piece was finished with oil to pop the grain then sealed. The final coats are a spray of Crystal Clear Acrylic and wax.



happy carving everone,
Regards

Terry

Walking staffs

Good morning and happy easter.
Our local medival festival is coming up in July and thought it was time  to start putting together some items to sell. First up are a few walking staffs. three of the heads are White Beech and the fourth is Spanish Cedar. The shafts are 25mm Australian hardwood.

Regards
Terry

Chess Set

This is my take on the LEWS CHESS SET,this set is held in, and can be viewed at http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/t/the_lewis_chessmen.aspx

This set was made  over 8 months between November 2008 and  June 2009 , but not carving full time, I had lots of rests periods. This piece was made with a fair bit passion and was donated to the Abbey Museum in Caboolture Queensland. http://www.abbeymuseum.asn.au/vi_history.htm

Very proud of this carving, and put it out to you people to be judged. Your comments are welcome.

The board is Black bean and Silver Ash 730 mm square and each square  is 84 mm

The chess pieces are White beech and Chillean Myrtle. The kings are 155 mm high.

QUEENS

KNIGHT

ROOK

BISHOP

PAWN

Happy Carving,

Terry

Genghis khan

I came across a photo of a bronze plaque of Genghis Khan in a back issue of National Geographic.
The face appealed to me with  such strong character  showing through  that I wanted to try my version of this man of history.
My piece is from White Beech, my number 1 carving timber, and is 240 mm x 200 mm x 90 mm deep.
Finished with Organoil Danish oil and Ubueat wax.

Very much enjoyed this carving and I am happy with the finished result.

Until next time ,happy carving,

Terry

January Carvings

After the xmas and new year break ,I felt the need to have a carving fix.
Funny how some things can affect a person, but it is out of the system now and I can relax once again.

Enjoyed all three carvings but I do like carving Greenmen.

Wall mask in spanish Cedar, finished with danish oil. 250 mm high.

Wall mask in camphor laurel,finish danish oil. 250 mm high.

Greenman in camphor laurel, finish danish oil. 230 mm dia.

Regards,

Terry

Quick Update

The church statue is not looking very promising. Although I have been keeping the piece covered with wet rags and inside a plastic bag, the cracks are still opening up. When I open up in the morning all the cracks are closed up but by end of day they are back and big. Where I have carved deep, between the chin and the folded hands on her chest I thought that I had carved through the cracks,but that section is now cracking also. Will continue with the roughing out a little longer for the practice.

I have been side tracked from the statue over the last week with other bits and pieces to be done. The museum runs a archaeological dig for school kids and some of the artifacts needed repair or replacing before the start of the new school year which is only a couple of weeks away. The wooden artifact do take some damage over the year the kids being a bit rough with things and the wooden artifacts suffering damage from being buried in damp sand all the time. It is a great learning curve for children to take part in a organized dig with dust pan and brush ,a sieve and having to record what ever they find in the correct way.

The weather today is great so it is a great day to carve, the same as every other day.

Happy Carving,
Terry

Church Statue

G'day, this is my first update on the church statue that I mentioned in my last post. I remembered to take the camera for some pics.

The chosen piece of liquid Amber. The splits started as soon as the bark was removed.

1100 mm x 300 mm

My working plan.

Start of the roughing out stage.

At present I am carving two days per week and wrap the piece in wet cloth and  seal with a plastic bag to try to slow down the mosture lose.When I take the cloth off all the cracks are closed but reappear as the day goes on. Things are not looking very promising but maybe I can carve through the splits into good wood

Until next time,

Regards

Terry

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Start of 2010

The start of 2010, it would be a great year if  this is the year that we achieve world peace.

The year has started with my biggist carving challenge ever.  A local church/museum where I do a little voluntary work has cut down a hugh liquid amber tree growing too close to the church. They have asked me to carve a statue of Our Lady Mary to stand by the altar.  A section of trunk has been selected and the balance of the tree went to the local woodworking club.
I have started by asking the club to slab the trunk lengthwise through the heart and the statue will be about 850 mm high.
I have been advised to work this timber green and also that it is very prone to splitting. The splitting has already started, so it is kept wrapped in wet cloth. I do hope that I can carve out the splits and complete the project.
Next Thursday I will take the camera and start recording the progress.

Happy Carving,
Terry