Four new projects

[Hugh]

Working on two Merganser female ducks with my carving class. One is to be detailed, and one a smoothie, or service decoy.
Chickadee, I like to keep a project going that I can work on in the evenings in the house. Burning drawing feathers etc.
Eastern Screech Owl, is my on going project, hope to have this one finished in a couple weeks.

[Nancy Goff]

Wow, Hugh. You know how fascinated I am with decoys ... especially the smoothies (those are the ones we call "gunners"). We collect gunners

Are you doing female mergansers because they are sooo much more complicated?

[Hugh]

Hi Nancy, I did think that the Merganser would be a little more of a challenge for my students. Kind of over stepped it a bit with the beginners, but they are coming along fine. Pleasing to see them come ahead so quickly.

[Marnie]

Beautiful projects Hugh - thanks for sharing your photos!

Readers - we are proud to offer another great project from Hugh in the next issue ( #18 ) of Carving Magazine! (And there's another one planned for a later issue) Keep on the lookout for them.

Editor Marnie

[squbrigg]

Wow, Hugh, you're a busy boy! Great looking work. Wish I lived closer, I'd be in on your classes. Great work.

Bob

[hi ho sliver]

Hi Hugh, those look like roughouts, if so, where do you get them? thanks Dave

[Hugh]

Hi Dave, they are my own rough outs. They start with a square or almost square block. Yrs ago I tried a couple rough outs and found myself held to someone elses design. I usually saw out the side profile, using a block of wood that is of the proper width, and carve out the other profile to suit myself. My students also start with the square block of tupelo.

[hi ho sliver]

There is no way I could do a roughout like that, lay it down and do another, lay it down and do another LOL......I'd go crazy....I start one and HAVE to finish it!

[Hugh]

Dave I was the same way, until I started trying to teach carving birds. The other morning I was carving a walking stick, spirit face with a feather below it, was carving on the chickadee with one student, and carving on the smoothie merganser with another. Never thought I could do this, but it turns out to be fun. Although during the regular days, I just work on the one project in the shop, possibly another in the evening, while listening to the TV.

[Hugh]

A little progress on the screech owl

[hi ho sliver]

those birds are great, have a particular leaning to hawks, eagles and owls....hummm all birds of prey.......well...I like chickadees and hummers too! lol

[Marnie]

Hi Hugh,

Thanks for sharing your progress with us! This is another awesome project.

Editor Marnie

[CarverRog]

Hugh, that owl is looking like another top quality piece. I just wish I could take the time and try that kind of carving. Oh well, I'll just leave it to you. Thanks for sharing.

[Kenny_S]

As usual Hugh, your Owl is awesome.
I always wonderd about instructors and having their students carve on the same subject. However, After the Bishops's class and 12 carvers, all carving different pieces, I no longer wonder that all instructors are alike. What is neat with the Bishops, you get two instructors for the price of one and both equally great carvers and instructors..

[Hugh]