Process /

How wood is transformed into a work of art

Case Studies: The Making of...

Stories of the making of three amazing sculptures including detailed photos. Each has a unique approach to its creation. Click on the stories below to display the process. Images in the stories can then be clicked on to zoom them in closer.

Stealth

Our friends, Bob and Sue Delgado, showed me a photograph Bob had taken of a bobcat prowling around their backyard pool near the San Gabriel Mountains in La Verne, California. We agreed it would make a great scuplture. Using his picture as a base, this figure emerged. They now enjoy the stealthy bobcat on a daily basis.

Roaming Elephant Herd

When a friend removed a Walnut tree from his backyard, he offered me a Walnut Wood Burl. To be disease resistant, English Walnut is grafted onto a Black Walnut base. After the 1000 pound Black Walnut Wood Burl was removed from the ground, a tractor pulled the wood wrapped in chains down the street & pushed it up a driveway pad. The irregularity of the burl suggested the idea of a large Freeform Sculpture.

Prowling

Narra Wood from the Philippines was imported to furnish a new home in Colorado with exceptional doors, mantles and floors. The excess wood was made available to me. Because this hard wood has a unique color and grain structure, a design concept involving a prowling wolf came to mind.

Step 1:

After drawing images of the bobcat from both sides a template guide was fashioned. Pieces of two inch thick Honduras Mahogany Wood were selected. Following measurements and pattern templates the wood was cut by band saw into varying lengths. Ultimately, eleven pieces were glued and clamped together in a precise pattern.

Step 2:

The total weight of the initial project was twenty pounds. After laminations were dried, further cuts on the band saw were made.
The rough stage blank was clamped to my studio work bench while gouges enabled the head and shoulders to materialize.

Step 3:

While clamped in different positions the bobcat was sculptured with pictured gouge tools sometimes applied with a mallet. From the rough stage the bobcat becomes apparent.

Step 4:

The formed bobcat has been carved, filed, and sanded to take its final shape.

Step 5:

A freeform base of Brazilian Cherry Wood was fashioned to complement the bobcat. The base was cut out with sculptured edges. Concave and convex openings were utilized. Texture was applied with a Dremel tool to add interest. The bobcat and base were given coats of lacquer to enhance and protect the sculpture as the “Stealthy Bobcat” roams freely.

Roaming Elephant Herd

Step 1:

Original Black Walnut Wood Burl.

Step 2:

Black Walnut Wood Burl being prepared for carving.

Step 3:

Initial Stage of Black Walnut Wood Burl Freeform Sculpture.

Freeform Sculptures generate the most questions, to which I reply, "What does this sculpture communicate to you?"

View 1:

A Roaming Elephant Herd from this angle!

View 2:

A woman bowing her head!

View 3:

A flock of Doves in flight!

Step 1:

Nine pieces of Narra Wood from the Philippines, two inches thick and varying lengths, were glued and clamped together with bar-clamps until bonded to form a rough blank to fit the wolf design.

Step 2:

From the drawings of the front and back of the intended wolf sculpture, a template was cut out of stiff cardboard. The traced outline on the laminated wood was cut out with a band saw.

Step 3:

The prowling wolf in the “roughed out” stage is emerging. It was carved with gouges and then filed, ready for more detailed carving.

Step 4:

More details, including muscle undulations, were carved in the face, body, legs, and feet, allowing the sculpture to take form. Part of a multistage process was started with coarse and then finer sandpaper to give an overall smooth finish.

Step 5:

The sanded wolf was covered with Watco Danish Oil to put moisture back into the wood and capture the warmth, color and grain. After the excess oil was removed and 24 hours had passed, three to four coats of lacquer were applied with fine sanding in-between coats. A distinctive freeform base was sculptured in Brazilian Cherry Wood to enhance the overall effect of this creation.

The Video

We are in the process of creating a video documentary in Bill's studio! See a time-condensed version of what happens from start to finish (pun not intended) when he decides to create another one of his fabulous sculptures.

Process /

Case Studies: The Making of...

Select a story...

Stealth

Roaming Elephant Herd

Prowling

Stealth

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Final Result:

Roaming Elephant Herd

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Freeform Sculptures generate the most questions, to which I reply, "What does this sculpture communicate to you?"

View 1:

View 2:

View 3:

Prowling

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Final Result:

Creation

The Video