I've been working on a quite a few new things. It has been a while since I updated, but I kind of like this format so giving it a try again. My family has been through some serious health issues the last few years - In my case I was in a really bad accident in 2015. I rolled a 1947 Willy's jeep on a busy highway. I was working on restoring it, but it is now a crumpled wreck. I did have a rollbar, but it was old and small. However, it kept me alive, barely. 17 broken bones including three vertebrae, ribs, fingers. My fingers on my right hand were mangled. I was unable to carve/scuplt/ or even hold a pencil hardly for months. My hand will never be the same. My index finger is a lumpy mass of barely movable tissue, and will never recover. So needless to say, by the time I was healed, I was super nervous to get back to work. What if I was no longer able to handle a knife, or use an adze with precision. What if I couldn't use my chisels? Would I still be able to engrave? The primitive method I use is very physical, and finger/forearm strength & control is critical. So with that going on plus major health issues with the rest of my family, I avoided the studio for a while, I finally got over my what ifs and decided to start trying again. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. Apparently I've adapted. I don't even notice my mangled finger. Thus I am back in the saddle and have been creating new pieces that last few months. I have a couple pieces for sale on the FOR SALE page (weird I know). In addition to those items, I am working on an octopus sun mask, an undersea octomonster, and a few other things.
Sun Octopus in progress. Port Orford Cedar, should be about 3.5' in diameter when completed. He will have 8 octo sun rays. 4 large, for small between the 4 pictured below. All eyes will have brightly polished and engraved copper eyes. I will be offering him for sale at about $2700-$3,000.
Almost halfway! Suckers take forever. Tedious work. But it must be done correctly.
Making progress- First ray mostly complete:
Starting out- basic sun shape completed, working on sun octo ray disposition:
Octomonster- I think I'll call him Undersea Doug. I'll probably offer him at around the $300-$400 range when complete. He's maple, port orford cedar, a ton of pins holding him together, copper & Brass. I'm about 3/4's of the way, but it will take a few days to finish painting. Lots of layers here. So far I have painted the base coat. In addition to his aged copper auric crown, he will have a shiny brass engraved belt buckle. Here are a few in progress pictures:
