Pattern Layout??

K

Kevin Kajita

New member
First off love the site and seeing all the great carvers here. I am having problems with layout the patterns on the head on different positions. When doing a preener or a feeder where the head is low or at a downward angle how do you get the pattern layout right? Hope that make sense any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kevin
 
Kevin -If I understand you right, taking a preener head and just turning it around gives an unnatural look to the pose of the decoy. I'd recommend cutting if off at the midsection of the neck so the head can jut straight out from the body like this canvasback...

View attachment PICT0046.jpg
View attachment PICT0047.jpg

This widgeon is a true preener with the base of the neck attached.
View attachment july096.jpg

Hope this helps and makes sense...
 
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Kevin

Here is what I do. I'm no expert, but it will allow you to experiement.

I glue my paper patterns onto luan (or some other cheap, durable surface) and cut them out so I can easily trace them onto wood or in the case of modifying a pattern, paper. Get yourself some newsprint sheets. I like them because they are big and cheap. First trace your body pattern (multiple times), keep in mind that this will need to be nodified a little as you finalize your head position, most of the modification will need to be in the breast area. Now take your head pattern, keeping in mind that the basic shape you will use from this is fron just behind the top of the head to where the neck and head meet, forward. Dont worry about the rest of the neck, or if it helps, cut out an extra piece and cut off this area you dont need.

Now, looking at lots of photos, work on placing the head where it "looks like it should be" then freehand drawing in the neck. Make multipe tracings of the body, trying differing head positions and different ways of completing the neck untill you get "the look" you want.

Other more experienced carvers I'm sure have more scientific ways of going about it, but that is how I do it on my gunners.

Best of luck
Chuck
 
I do something very similar to what Chuck does using sketching or tracing paper and starting with a pattern that I have used in the past and modify it using a lot of photos as reference. Once I am happy with the pattern on paper, I cut out a blank on the bandsaw to see if it needs any modifications. I often struggle with seeing things on paper that pop right out once I have a blank cut out. When all of the modifications are made I use clear vinyl material you can get from Menards that is used as a carpet runner / protector. It is sold by the running foot and is two or three feet wide. I lay that over the pattern that is drawn on the paper and simply trace the pattern onto the clear vinyl runner. The vinyl is thin enough to cut out with a good pair of scissors but heavy enough to last. I use push pins to hold that down to the wood when tracing out a blank to cut out.
 
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