Want to try carving my dog...help!

[Donna_T]

Squbrigg,
Once I decide to do an animal, and determine the pose, and get it cut out, I get the ole pencil out and start drawing in the major muscle groups and bone structure. That way I know where joints (that may be hidden beneath fur) really go so I can get them bent correctly. I set in the muscle groups--the highs and lows--and then start roughing in the body. I used to wait and do the head last -- mostly because it is the hardest to do and the part that draws the most attention-- but now I get it roughed in fairly quickly, including eyes and nose. Let's face it, if I'm not satisfied with the head, and there's nothing I can do to salvage it, why waste time on the rest of the body.

When I carve animals, I don't smooth out the carving first. I use a veiner to work it down in the general flow of the fur--that way I already have the basis for the fur.

I agree about the photos. I'd either take some photos of the dog in the various poses you want to consider--or find photos of other comparable dogs in those poses.

Good luck and let us know how you do with the project.

Donna T

[squbrigg]

Thanks Hugh and Donna T,

I did the photo thing to start the project, in the pose I wanted, snapped front, back, top, left and right sides. Then I sketched her....both from the photos and from life, doing several sketches of each, each getting progressively better and more detailed. From a circle sketch (like a stick drawing, but using circle, sausage shapes) to finally a fine sketch to capture the hair patterns. Just really, to fix it in my mind.

I like the idea of the muscle groups, that would give the under-lying contours of the body and will effect the lay of the fur too. The Lori Irish book goes into the muscular workings of the wolf...and that is the closest I can find in shape. So I'll study that.

The pose is natural too....it's the one she most often assumes when ever she's with me....unless she goes to sleep. And she's always with me. Even when I'm carving, she heads for the basement door when I put my shop shoes on and waits for me. She loves it down there, it's cooler than the rest of the house, and generally quiet, besides, she has the same taste in music as I do! Her cage is down there, but I leave her door open most of the time. Only close it if I'm using a power tool. That's her space and she loves it...lays there in that relaxed curl for hours, watching me carve.

I have the blank glued up, and the head positioned, so I guess I have no excuse not to get started. :-/

It will take me a while, but I have all kinds of time. Am finishing a couple of other projects too....a tool chest that I began almost a year ago, continue work on the Shannon model, I'm three years into that one, and I've begun work on a new half model. So lots to keep me busy. Good therapy for me.

Thanks for the tips folks.

Bob