Progress of the pig
I have tried to identify the progressive stages of the 'Pig', as I carved my first piece from a solid block of timber originally destined for the fireplace. I guess the piece is derived from the turned up branch that immediately suggested a pig's nose to me. How on earth I settled for that subject is beyond me. I suppose I like to be a little left of centre when it comes to my art. The top of the timber curved out slightly which suggested that I might be able to have an ear that stuck out somewhat. I began to rough out with my Stihl 009 chainsaw with a 12" normal bar. I have yet to purchase a carving bar with a narrower tip. |
Stage 2
After roughing out the general shape of the subject from the original block, I have to reassess the intended shape I began with due to the large cracks and crevices in the dried block. It begins to look a little more like a caricature now. I can live with that. There are worse looks than a muppet pig. The next stage should have been some serious shaping and smoothing with an angle grinder fixed with a course sanding pad. As I did not have a grinder at the time, it was down to elbow grease, a wood chisel, and a wood rasp. |
Stage 3
After wearing myself out and giving myself dead wrists, the laborious chore of sanding with the coarsest paper begins. Once more there are alterations made to the initial design due to the ever changing/wearing of the outer layers. Cracks appear, borer holes get longer and bigger, and the hidden grain starts to emerge. While some consider this to be the worst part of sculpting, I find it rather rewarding despite the seemingly endless task of refining and ridding the piece of gouge marks from the harsh rasp. |
Last stage
The last stage concerns the final sanding with very fine grit (I use 1200 grit W & D), and the coating you decide to place on your piece. I have no real rule here, preferring natural oil finishes when I can. There are timbers that need bolstering with clear polyurethane finishes and some that suit a Matt finish over a Gloss. It is up to the artist to decide in the end. If I make a piece for sale or competition I want to ensure that the eventual owner has as little to do as possible, and above all, I want the piece to last many years. I chose a sheen of Scandinavian Teak oil for 'Pig', which brought out all the wonderful colours and grain hiding within the log. Let me know what you think of the final product. |
TestimonialHi Joe...The Pig loves his new home (he hasn't stopped oinking with delight)..he lives on our kitchen bench which is in a big open area. I see a whimsical resemblance to Piglet from Winnie the Poo as I glance at him in passing.., He greets us with his constant happy smile, I love his rich sheen and texture...thank you for creating him with such love, diligence and care...he is a real treasure to be enjoyed by all who come to our home..Much continued success with your art. I feel lucky to be the owner of your first solid block piece With my thanks Elke :-)
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