Clydesdale Horse, Black Walnut, Rotating Base lathe

Man I love this horse. I could see you doing a whole series of different breeds of horses. I like the color contrast, and making it into a music box is an outstanding idea. You are an amazing carver. I wish I could do what you are able to do with a knife. I have wanted to be a carver since I watched an old man carve a boot with a pocket knife while sitting under a tree in the shade. I think I was 8 or 9 years old then.

If you like carving figures like this, a place close to me in Wichita, KS has a roughout making business. What you get is a nice chunk of basswood that has been roughed out to the approximate shape of the item you select. You can then carve all of the details. What this saves, is finding a photo and converting from a photo to a rough shape. They have been in business for many years. I have visited the shop, and they are also nice people. I bought a figure about 12-14 years ago of a standing cowboy, someday, I will get it finished!

here is their website:
http://www.roughouts.com/index.htm

Mark

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan

Thanks Mark,
I’m kind of like you, for many years I’d look at someones carvings at craft shows. I thought gee, I wish I could do that. So one day I picked up a set of carving chisels, & took a stab at it, & found that I could do it. I wished that I tried this many years earlier, although I’ve been seriously carving for over 30 years now. Before that I was always carving something with a jacknife with poor results. I have never taken any lessons. The only thing that I regret is that I can’t draw very well, but I’m pretty good at tracing things. The first book I ever purchased was by Harold Enlow, “Carving Driftwood Figures.

It is because of the “Grace of God” that I have this talent.

Thanks for the website.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Nice work.

Nice sculpture! The horse’s nature really shows in your carving.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

that really is an excellant job in carving. I like the idea of including the music box as well. Do you have plans for anymore carvings?

-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~

Thanks Darryl,
I don’t usually do my carvings with a plan. If I see a picture of something that interests me in a magazine I’ll tear it out, & save it. When I get the notion to carve something, I go through my pile of clippings, & make a photocopy to the desired scale.
A lot of carving magazines, will have patterns, But most of the time I prefer to go my own route.
The rotating base for the horse is my own idea. I don’t even remember how I did it. Being that I didn’t use a plan, I’d have to dismantle it to see how it was done if I were to make another one.
I do know I used the small sized turntable hardware for it.
It’s also amazing that the music box movement has enough power to rotate that big old horse.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Wow Dick…I really llove the horse. It exudes strength. It reminds me of Roman or Greek statuary of a war horse. Very nicely done. I’ve just recently started to inprove my carving. I’ve played around here or there…more whittling than carving until recently though. I’ve saved a picture of this and will try something similar someday.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

you never cease to amaze me!!! Brilliantly done

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Thanks,
I ran a search for a book with this pattern by Mary Duke Guldan with no success. I have many old issues of ChipChats magazine, but it would take me forever.
Maybe someone knows how to search for it.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

WOW! I am true impressed. Beautiful job. You capture the strenth and power of the animal, very regal as well. Thanks for giving credit where credit is due….all thing through him. Have a blessed day tomorrow.

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

I just added another image to this project.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Dick, this is really beautiful! Glad I noticed your update or I would have missed it altogether. My dad would love this. He and my grandfather raise Quarter Horses back in TX. I shall send him a link.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

You have, indeed, captured the Clyde. It even looks like you’ve got him a little cow hocked and the shoes look square toed. Clyde’s are always longer from the hock to the ground than other horses and you’ve captured the persona of these great creatures.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Thank you for the great comment. It’s nice to hear from a horse expert.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

What a great horseshoe! Your attention to detail is wonderful Dick. Really fine carving. Nice!

-- BarbS, Wenatchee WA

Thank you Barbs.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Holy cow!!
I mean horse
That is nice work Dick

-- John in Cranbrook http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

Thank you, & congratulations Grandpa.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Great detail Dick. Absolutely beautiful workmanship….again, shown here on LumberJocks.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Thank you PJ !!!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Dick! What an awesome job of carving! I’ve admired your carvings since coming to LJ. This one is just spectacular!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Thanks Mot,
I wouldn’t have been able to do as good of a job on this if it hadn’t been the great pattern, & description from ChipChats Magazine.
But I do take full credit for the base.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Exellent craftsmanship!!! Very natural and gracefull.

-- Dennis Zongker

Thank you Dennis.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Wow, incredible!! You are certainly a natural talent…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Thanks Steve!

It was nice of Dennis Zongker to reactivate this project.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I really like this, and the wood too is stunning well done.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease