ELKHORN is another example that every carving project is a learning journey of attempting to carve certain effects into a carving.  Native Americans have been a good subject for carving projects because of their noble facial features and ornamentation of their dress.

Some of the features to be accomplished in this carving study includes the drapery of a robe, necklace beads, hair treatment with feathers, braids, tied sprigs of hair, beaded hair strand  and flowing pony tail.  Facial features attempted to depict a weathered and aged face that has a contemplative look.  Overall design was to have  moving S curves in several places all around the carving.

The robe drapes over one shoulder while continuing to travel around the back and up under the arm holding the peace pipe.  The right hand is holding a corner of the robe as it comes up from under the left arm.  There are no straight lines any where on the robe as its bottom edge and wrinkles incorporate a lazy S flow all around the carving.  The goal being to make the robe have movement to complement the movement of the position of the head and the movement of the hair treatment.

A study of the facial features and hair treatment of Elkhorn, first without a finish in the first row of photographs and then the second row of photographs showing the effect of a natural stain finish.  The natural finish is Raw Sienna artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil and final coat of the brushing lacquer Deft.

In studying the without finish first row of photographs notice that the beads in the hair treatment and the necklaces have received a soaking of super glue to strengthen  these weak areas.  A wood-burning treatment was used for the hair ties and the buckskin fringe on the shirt.  Notice also that there are no straight lines as the curves of a lazy S are repeated all around the face and hair.

The series of photographs above show Elkhorn in various stages of being carved.  Starting with an inch and three quarter square by six inch tall basswood block, various gouges were used to carve the basic form of Elkhorn.   Drake gouges along with his gouge V tool were used for carving to form.  Also, Denny’s soft V or gouge V tools were used to carve the basic form. As the form became more refined knives were used where gouges could not be used.

The head covering and head are first carved to basic form.  Then the rest of the body is carved to basic form.  The basic form serves as a good foundation for the details to be carved in their proper locations.  While carving to form the overall design is kept in mind to allow for the flowing lines to be refined while working towards the final detail carving steps.

These final photographs offer a close up study of particular features.  Elkhorn was a good teacher on the journey of carving wood and learning to grow in the carving process.  After all, carving is a learn by doing journey in which the more one carves the better one carves. This Wood Bee Carver is still learning.