Bear Carving ( it's done for better or worse )

[Parnell]

That is really interesting, Rich.  How is the wood, on the soft side?  It reminded me of citrus a little.
I'll be watching.

[half eye]

Thanks Howard, Pappy....Parnell the wood has a SG= 50 but is fairly grainless, fairly .

Got the body, butt, and legs close enough for now and starting to work on and fit the base composition elements. Right now I'm thinking some boulders and a dead tree (log) so here are the lastest pics....some from a distance and the second group close-up shots of how the feet will set on the "rocks".
rich

PS: Makin these animals is sort of a slow process of "nibbling" away at the carving untill ya get the exact musculature you want so although it might not look like it....there is a LOT less wood that there was.

[half eye]

rest of them

[dlhamblin]

Wow!!!  That is some bear taking shape.  Very cool my friend.  Can wait to see the final composition and the smile on that bears face.  He must be smiling looking at you all day.......LOL.

[dlhamblin]

Picture Half Eye mentioned in his first post for this bear carving.

[bubby]

Looking good rich, how big is that going to be

[half eye]

The finished composition will fit inside an "invisible box" roughly 20 X 20 X 24-28.

Dan, would like to remind you that there is enough wood on the muzzel yet that he could be made to stick his tongue out at ya  Just sayin...
rich

[dlhamblin]

Sir..............you have done the impossible.............you shut me up.   At least until the bear is done.  LOL.

[Stringman]

Watching with keen interest!

[lesken2011]

Really lookin good, Rich! You are the man!!

[IdahoMatt]

Awesome Rich,  love these.  You are a true artist.  Looking great

[half eye]

Thank you all for the comments....Thought that I would catch ya up on where this thing is now.

Got the base rocks, log, etc carved and gesso'd and mounted to a piece of 1/4" cabinet grade oak plywood. The oak ply will form the base for the "sand" (sawdust). I decided to make the rocks look like they are on the edge of a lake or river etc. so the base will get a layer of resin "water". This requires that the formal base is carved out to fit the plywood which will be set below the surface of the base and form a dam for the fake water.

Got the face worked down to about 75% and the feet shaped to the "toes-up" shape. From here on I need to paint and finish the base and habitat, final shape the face, and carve the claws and detail the soles of his feet......then carve and burn the fur.....will keep ya posted.

will be 3 sets of pics....forgot to say the formal base is a single piece of white ash I milled up a couple days ago. The first 2 pics are the habitat rough out.

Again, any ? please speak up.
rich

Thanks again for all the comments.

[half eye]

2nd set

[half eye]

3rd set

[half eye]

last few