Davinci Project -final Chapter- getting a Head

[ragiarn]

Now that all the pieces are cut and fitted it is time to get to the fun part.

The shaping and contouring. Some have referred to my work as carving. I feel that that the term is not appropriate since Webster defines carving as: the art of fashioning or ornamenting objects of wood by cutting with a sharp handheld implement.

Most of my work is done using a number of sanding tools. No sharp tools. (However lately I have experimented with some rotary cutting tools for fine details.) I prefer to use the term sculpting which is the term JGR uses to describe her work "

These are two quotes I obtained from her website:

" Dimensional intarsia is a form of sculpture, bas-relief to be exact.

"After working with this technique (we called them wood murals at the time) I realized how much I enjoyed sculpting the wood, working with grains and colors of wood"

The first photo is the rough cut out pieces for the nose and mouth of the horse. I used black walnut.

The next photo is the work in progress in my rotary tool shaping station.

Photo is the finished head. Spanish cedar (or is it mahogany- the worker at the milner wasn't sure and apparently to two woods are related), black walnut for the nose and mouth, wenge for the eyes and aspen.

Photo is self explanatory.
Photo are the two parts of the neck partially shaped and sanded. and ready for the next step.

Jeffrey- if you are reading this, I took your suggestion and kept the individual pieces to a minimum. In the prototype I had 24 pieces in all and in this version I have 9 pieces- 4 each side and the aspen for the white down the center of the face.

Doc

[workin for wood]

I like how you say you can't carve, yet you are sculpting the horses head into shape. You know if you drew that head onto a block and cut it out on a bandsaw, it wouldn't be any different that what you are doing now, although you don't have the different colors. I'm not saying stop what you are doing, just saying you have the ability. Just look at photo 2, and tell me you can't carve.

You need to save your money and invest in a foredom power carver and toss the dremel. You'll wonder how you ever managed before. There is a real lack of control and especially a lack of comfort with the dremel. It's too fat.

[Janette]

Whatever you call it...DaVinci would have been proud!

I love the step by step. It really shows the work involved and details of what you're doing. Thank you so much for sharing with the group.

I found a rotary tool at woodcraft that's not a dremel brand. It has a much thinner flex shaft and also has a power carving attachment as well. It was around $170. I think the brand is Wecheer.

[minowevie]

Wow. If I could do that. it would save me about 1500 a year on feed. I could just make myself a horse, and put a motor in her. and ride away. never kicks, never bites, and don't need a shouer, that is so life like I am proud. to have you hear on are forum. you are going places . keep up the great work. your friend, Evie