Dolphin paradise- latest project

[Bluebird]

Hello everyone,
this is my first attempt at posting a new thread and adding pictures to it. Hope it works! I joined this group last June but still have some "navigation" challenge!! I made this project for my nephew. He wants to give it to his girlfriend who is a dolphin lover. Hope she likes it.

I used "grey" maple to make the dolphin but it wasn't grey enough for me, so I did ebonise it using a vinegar solution, to make it a darker grey. I am happy with the end result. I still need to add a few coats of varnish to it but took the picture before so I wouldn't have to deal with the flash reflection.

Any comments are welcome.

[Trout]

that looks great and I'm sure she is going to love it....

Trout

[greatdane2]

That looks really good you sure got the depth perception right on most of it. On the Dolphins right hand flipper I would of used a shim that was just about as thick as the body around it. I would then sand down the flipper where it joins the body so it is flush with the body. The tip I would not sand down at all. I am guessing that the wood you used there is 1/2 to 3/4" thick, this would make the flipper really stand out.
Next the tail, I would leave as much thickness as possible on the tips and sand down tp the body. Then I would sand as much as possible of the undeside at the tips so the tip of the tail is quite thin but sticks up again giving you a lot more depth. If you relly feel adventuras you could do the tail first along with the end piece of the body. If you left the thickness of the top of each piece and only sand it to get your shape, and then take as much as possible of the back so that the tail curves up and away from the rest of the piece. I would also tapper the other flipper down to its tip so it is just about flush with the background.
Now the fun part is to cut the pieces that surround the tail end, If you have taken a lot off the back of thre tail you need to cut the surrounding pieces a bit bigger to fit under the tail.
This is no way a sling against what you have done, your Dolphin Paradise is a heck of a lot nicer than the first one I did. I have done a ton of Killer Whales and Dolphins and the best sellers are ones I have been able to give more shape to. Sometimes I use wood that is 1 1/2 thick and sand down the body to the thickness of your body and the tail and flipper bent way up.
If you can do this as well as you did your trees and shrubs it will give much more depth to your project.

Alan.

[Janette]

Great job Henriette! I just love the colors you used - they're really nice and bright and fit the piece perfectly.

[Bruce]

Looks great Henriette, I like the colors as well.

[marshall]

Bluebird : This is really niece , I'm sure anybody would like to receive this as a present , a fine job !!!!!!! Marshall

[Mike Crosa]

Henriette, that is one fine piece of work. I especially like how you did the palm fronds. They look great. How did you do it?

[tony coleman]

henriette,just wanted to say wow.that is lovely work you did,keep it going.keep making sawdust

[Wood Dog]

That looks sweeeeeet Bluebird.......you Intarsia people keep pushing me into thinking I need to try one someday. Thanks for posting your pictures.

[lucky788scroller]

Very nice piece, something that will be admired for a looong time. You did an excellant job choosing colors, and your ebonizing turned out great!