First attempt at carving and Tanuki

Here in the south we seem to have a shortage of interesting deadwood. Our low lands and swamps aren't really conducive to create bends and twists. So I thought I would try and carve something interesting out of a piece of juniper and try my first Tanuki.








I used a small shimpaku to mate with the deadwood.




For scale next to a 16oz. water bottle.

Interesting, I am not sure how "natural" it looks.

Good carving job!

Looks cool what did you carve with?

mike page wrote:Good carving job!

Thanks Mike

giga wrote:Looks cool what did you carve with?

Thanks, I used a dremel tool mostly.

Mad skills in carving.

Good carving Brian. I just wish that the foliage and branch movement would follow and the fluid design of the deadwood in the future.

If it were mine I would carve the deadwood deep enough and press the live trunk in then wrap it with tape. when the trunk gets thick enough it would tighten its grip on the deadwood and it would look as if it is naturally part of the deadwood.

regards,
jun

Brian,
I like your carving. How long did it take you carve this piece?
Todd

for your first attempt at carving thats a fantastic job, but jun is right the two don't go together. Try what Jun's suggested and make more of a visible live vein. If you ever get your hands on some good material you are going to be awesome. Regards John

Katoom wrote:Mad skills in carving.

Thanks bud!

jun wrote:Good carving Brian. I just wish that the foliage and branch movement would follow and the fluid design of the deadwood in the future.

If it were mine I would carve the deadwood deep enough and press the live trunk in then wrap it with tape. when the trunk gets thick enough it would tighten its grip on the deadwood and it would look as if it is naturally part of the deadwood.

regards,
jun

Hi Jun, Thanks for your kind words, I didn't post the a pic of it but I did carve a channel. I carefully removed the bark that contacts inside the channel. I then used clear gorilla glue and zip ties to anchor.

by Todd Ellis wrote:Brian,
I like your carving. How long did it take you carve this piece?
Todd

Thanks Todd I have around 2 hours into it.

john5555leonard wrote:for your first attempt at carving thats a fantastic job, but jun is right the two don't go together. Try what Jun's suggested and make more of a visible live vein. If you ever get your hands on some good material you are going to be awesome. Regards John

Thank you John, I appreciate your compliment. I'm hoping with time it becomes more visible.

hi brian , you could always add a second tree !!! just a thought, you could fit it along the lower edge of the driftwood, and bring it down as a semi cascade so it does not hide the carving . regards john