Anybody do this at work?

abe henderson

abe henderson

Member
When I started getting into carving I decided I would draw all my own patterns, so when I'm bored at work or should be doing something useful I'm usually doing this kinda stuff.

How many of you guys draw your own patterns? Anybody actually winging it--just carving totally freehand?

Abe


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Abe,

I have drawn more than half of the birds i've carved to date, used godin patterns for the others. I did completely wing one. Not surprisingly, the proportions were off on the winged one, but it was neat to see it come together.
 
wish I had that kind of talent to draw.

I use generic top view pattern for the body and then use a generic side view of the head, but will modify the head pattern freehand on the plank and thats it. Winged from there on, very little drawing of lines on bird, no measuring, while carving everything is freehand and eyebold. I like to say, I don't have the talent to make art, so I make decoys.
 
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Abe,

For the most part, a frond carving involves "winging it." I'll start with an idea in mind and freehand draw the outline of what i think will need to be cut away to accomodate what I have in mind (this is done right on the frond). As the shaping progresses, the idea may change. The challenge (and the fun) is to use a minimum of detail while planning for what paint scheme I think I'll use once the carving is done.

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One last thing: What is this "at work" thing you are speaking of ???
 
I just finished cutting out a pattern to transfer to posterboard, lol! Looks like alot of use do the same thing instead of slaving away for the man.
 
My progression as a carver has gone like this: When I started, I felt that if I didn't draw the pattern, the finished decoy wouldn't really be "MY" bird, plus I am insanely thick headed. After a handful of birds that looked like crap, I realized that I had no idea what a duck REALLY looked like. So I bought some pattern books, and made some decoys from them, in the process realizing they were still "my" decoys, and that no two people would carve the same bird from the same pattern anyway. Plus I modified the patterns alot, shaved off RPs, changed head directions etc. After carving 100 or so from good patterns, I had a feel for what a duck looked like, and how a decoy needed to be shaped to ride correctly, and all of the other things you learn by carving and gunning your decoys. About a year ago I started to stray from patterns again, some good, some bad, but learning from each decoy as always. My latest decoys I have drawn right on the wood....no real pattern, and I feel they are best works yet!

Oh, and I used to work as a CAD draftsman....so I did my share of decoy stuff in the office!!
 
Bob...Sweet! I'd love to do palm fronds, but I'd like to be committed to local materials, using western red cedar right now and a maple keel from a tree cut here in town. I really think the way the old timers did it is cool, local collected/harvested materials, hand tools, lots of time watching birds and hunting birds. All that work and attention to detail make a great experience not just a good end product. I was just thinking a minute ago about using forks in branches for head material, have to experiment with that. Very nice birds as always!
 
Abe,,


I own the company I work for....so I have to convince one of us three....me, myself, or I, if I want to goof off and doodle away the time.......the problem is they argue with each other as to if I should or not, normally have to do that on the sly, that way the other two do not know what is going on...
 
very artistic for a cup of coffee.....

I will just take mine black...no sugar...no frilly flavors...no creamers....no Seattle whako coffee fluffed up with all sorts of stuff.......just black is fine....but if that is what you like go for it...

I think I will pour another cup as I watch the mix of snow and rain fall.....then back to spreadsheet hell...
 
Matt, I am with you on that one, I don't drink that fancy stuff either. I tell people that I make em pretty to make them feel better about ruining fine coffee with milk. Its a shame but it keeps me busy.
 
Abe,

well maybe they need an old time sheepherder to make em a cup after he invited you to join him and there taint a drop of fancy stuff....best to drink up and maybe he might tell you where he has been seeing the deer and elk..
 
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Yeah, my best patterns come from my most boring classes in school. I take these quick 10 or 15 min sketches that i draw off the top of my head in school, take them home (if they aren't confiscated) and tweak them. The bill looks pretty droopy because the paper was rolled up, and the crown is a lot taller also because the paper is rolled upwards.... Math teachers are too critical! :)
 
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