Carving The eagle Head Walking Stick - Part 2

After the blank is cut out, the first thing to do is to draw a center line on the top edge of the blank.  This center line is important to ensure a carving that is in balance.

There are several manners in which we can carve this Eagle Head. We can use just a knife, or just a gouge. Or we can use a combination of both.

Before starting to rough out the blank, sketch the features on both sides of the blank.  As you rough out the blank you'll be redrawing these features several times. 

Before we begin to rough out the Eagle Head with the knife and/or gouge we need to realize how an Eagle Head actually looks.  For our purposes we can divide the head into two parts - the beak and the feathered head.  Both the beak and the head must be rounded off, from their square blank.  Begin to round off the head, neck area, and the beak.  Pay close attention to the direction of the grain.  Remove wood in the direction of the grain.  Remove small chips until you are sure of the grain direction.  Before you completly round off the head and the beak, you need to draw the features on the top of the beak and head (top view).  Next you can continue to remove wood to round off the head and neck area.

Earlier I stated that there were two tools that could be used.  You can rough out the blank with a knife or a gouge; or use both.  I usually start out with knife, and in the case of this Eagle Head, I'll finish up with the gouge.  I rough out with the knife and do the finish carving with the gouge.  By finishing the head and neck area with the gouge it will actually look like feathers, and require very little additional work before painting.

For illustration purposes I carved one side of the Eagle Head completely with the knife and the other side was finished up with the gouge.

We'll finish the Eagle Head up in the next posting.

Carving The Eagle Head Walking Stick

Several posts ago I mentioned that if one has the opportunity to do an Eagle head cane, for the wounded vets, they should not be intimidated by this project.  I decided to present a tutorial to show that this is a project that the less experienced carver can complete.  Not only complete, but produce an impressive cane or walking stick.

This carving project starts out with a good pattern.  This pattern is from the WOODCARVING ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE.

The walking staff that we'll be making will not include the cane handle at the back of the Eagle head, although it could easily be done with a larger blank to accommodate the handle.  The carving wood is a 2 1/4 inch thick block of Basswood.  To transfer the pattern from the drawing, I use a piece of carbon paper.

Be sure to place the pattern
so that the wood grain lines up with the front to back of the Eagle head.



I used the scroll saw to cut out the blank.

The next posting will start with the two tools that I use to rough out and the carve this Eagle head, and then move through the carving steps.

HATS!

Whenever whittling figures that have a hat with a wide brim there is at least one decision to make right off.

The brim on this State Patrol hat is wide, and as you can see, there will be quite a bit of wood to be whittled off if you decide to whittle the figure out of one block of wood.  The first decision is: whittle the hat in one piece or two?  In this first example I decided in one piece.

Here's an example of a cowboy with a hat that also has a wide brim.  I decided to whittle the cowboy with a "conehead", and the then do the brim separate.  This is a two part figure.

The "conehead" part of the cowboy becomes the top part of the hat.   By doing this piece in two parts I was able to use a much smaller block of wood, eliminate the need to whittle off a whole bunch of wood, and complete the project faster.  Cheaper, easier, and faster; what more does one want?

Help For Those Of Us Who Can't Say NO!

Are you being overwhelmed by an ever increasing amount of carvings to complete, because some asked you for one?  Are you too involved with local, state or national organizations? As an officer? Are you exhibiting in too many woodcarving shows?  Are you giving too many presentations?  Do you just say yes, way too many times?

I am drafting a new part of the bankruptcy law.  Traditional bankruptcy comes under either Chapter 7 (Liquidation) or Chapter 13 (Reorganization).  My proposal for a Chapter 365 requires neither liquidation nor reorganization.  Chapter 365 starts with an admission that the filer says he/she has said they will carve something for someone, participate in some event, carve 24 ornaments for an exchange, serve as an officer in a carving club (or any other organization), or just plain anything that you have said YES to.

Chapter 365 will absolve one of the need to complete whatever one has said YES to.  Chapter 365 does not require any reasons for a successful filing.  Chapter 365 offers a chance to get out from under the crushing demands resulting from the inability to say NO.  The only stipulation one has in regard to Chapter 365 is that it can only be used six (6) times in any one calendar year.

This chapter of the bankruptcy law will carry no stigma relating to a lack of skill, talent, responsibility, nor honor; merely a lack in the ability to say NO.

Do I get any support for this?

Honoring Veterans With An Eagle cane

I carve with a group of local folks every Tuesday.  This group is composed of all levels of carvers.  We just completed these canes that will be part of a local effort to honor veterans.   I am posting this photo to let all whittlers and wood carvers know that if they have the opportunity to participate in a like effort to not be intimidated.  These Eagle head canes can be very basic or very ornate, both of which are impressive.  The basic carve is not that difficult.  Several of these canes involve the basic carve, and have been carved by less experienced carvers.

Tip - Preparing Wood To Carve!

I have always read that when you come across a piece of wood that is hard and difficult to carve, you can spray it with alcohol and it will become easier to carve.  Some say the same goes for soaking the wood in water.

Like to sit on the swing and whittle and carve.  A few weeks ago I was doing just that.  I left a few pieces of Basswood sitting on the swing when I went in for dinner.  After a week of travel I returned to the swing and found the wood.  This wood carved like butter.  The wood had not got wet in the rain, but the humidity was about 90% for the week, and the wood must have absorbed some moisture.  

Some More Carvin With The Girls!

                                           The weather has cooled off and the girls want to carve some more.  In this first photo Zinnia is working on a little penguin.  Notice that she is wearing a carving glove on the hand that is holding the wood.  One of my friends (John Beach) had some Kevlar gloves left over from some  carving classes he recently taught.  This carving glove may be a bit large, but Zinnia was quite impressed when she read Kevlar on it label.  Course when I told her that Kevlar was what they made bullet proof vests out off she wanted me to get a gun and test it.

 In this photo Zinnia is putting the finishing touches on a 5 minute Owl.

 This photo is included to show the concentration that Zinnia has.  At least I hope that is what it is, and she's not sticking her tongue out at me.

Here's what Zinnia has finished up so far.  Three little 5 minute Owls and a Penguin.  You may notice that the penguin has a "business tie" instead of a bow tie.  This was Zinnia's idea.  I think these are extremely well done for only three 20 minute sessions.

NOW IT'S DAHLIA'S TURN

 Dahlia is starting out carving soap.  We though she was still a wee bit young to handle a razor sharp carving knife.  This is her third project.  I hope you recognize that she has completed a Bear.  And more specifically, as she says, "a Grizzly Bear".  Notice that she has used a real knife for her soap carving.  I did make sure that the knife edge was quite dull before we started.  I just couldn't have Dahlia use a plastic knife or worst yet a Popsicle stick to begin learning to carve. 

I think Dahlia is quite pleased with her Bear, her Grizzly Bear.

When kids show and interest in carving, I think it's important for us to take the time and show them some of the basics.  I like to think of my time showing beginners a little about whittling and carving, as opening some doors to a great hobby.

Since there are four photos of Zinnia's carving and only two of Dahlia's I made Dahlia's twice as large.

Meet Trevor Scott - A New Wood Carver

Meet Trevor Scott.  Trevor is 15 years old, and not a typical teenager.  At least he's not as far as I'm concerned.  Trevor wants to learn how to carve.  And Trevor has patience. 

As soon as I saw that Trevor had an interest in wood carving, I assembled a beginners kit and some instructions and sent them to him.  This kit included, a glove, a thumb protector, and good beginners bench knife, a decent pocket knife, a small strop, some Basswood, and some instructions.  The instructions included step-by-step tutorials and study sticks for the 5 minute owl and the 5 minute wizard.  Opps, almost forgot!  Sent him some copies of the WoodCarving Illustrated magazine.  Told him to read all the articles, especially the one about carving safety.

The owls are the first things that Trevor attempted and completed.  After he started out with the owls, on his own, I spent a few hours sitting with him and he began to do the Wizards. 

I think we all need to encourage young folks to try wood carving.  If we are lucky enough to find one with as much interest and patience as Trevor Scott, we might be able to ensure the future of woodcarving.