Bear in the Wood

[BillK]

I always wanted to try and model a bear. Scottp55 ‘s post viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34101 inspired me to try this one from the picture of his Spirit Bear. Got to the point I needed to cut it to see how the model looked.

My neighbor cleared some tree’s about 18 months ago and said I could take what I wanted. All the logs had this funky dark section on the ends. Took some to burn and saved a few branches to dry out. Not sure of the species.

I thought the log would be a real bear to rip in half, but it was no match for my Grizzly Bandsaw.

So the dark streak looked interesting on the inside. Decided to remove the bark with a draw knife and then add a flat for mounting in the CNC with my Stanley No. 5. Cut relatively easy.

Carve area roughly 4 1/2 x 2 1/2. Roughed with a 1/4” endmill. Finished with a 1/2mm TBN.

After it finished, I rounded the back with a spokeshave. Polymerized Linseed oil, then a coat of Linwax.

Thanks for looking!

[scotttarnor]

That came out really nice!

[BillK]

Thanks Scott. I’d like to carve it on a bigger piece next time.

[scottp55]

Nice pics and explanation on this thread Bill!
Glad you didn't show Just the finished piece!
I can see by that knot why you picked that for the Bottom(Like the "Star" cracks).
I'm with you....preview is great, but doesn't really tell you what it will "Feel" like.

Did that knot come out at the Bear's head?
You'd think after taking Dendrology when I was 17 that I could identify the species...
Just goes to show it didn't all "Stick"
(I thought one of the Cherries, but no lenticles:(

LIKE his face and especially his nose!
Think the wet fur on critters makes the fur easier?

HAVE to go trough the backyard and scrounge some more branches so I'll have something to carve next year! Maybe I'll find some that will look good to drawshave bark off:)
Haven't been able to check out many woodpiles this year

Well done from scratch Bill!!

[BillK]

Hi Scott, always like to answer your questions.

Did that knot come out at the Bear's head? No, it did not. I thought it might, and a dark spot over the left ear was exposed, but it was gone after the finish cut.

Think the wet fur on critters makes the fur easier? That’s a good one. Most bears I’ve seen, and we get pictures from people’s security cameras here posted almost every night (guess that’s what happens when you live about 10 miles from Bear Mountain State Park in NY) have very sleek coats when dry. The one in the picture looked like he might have been fishing, so the fur gives more texture for carving.

Ordering a can of anchorseal before I cut down that dead apple tree in the back yard. Should be quite a haul of branches.

[BillK]

Oh, and I almost forgot, shared the model I made with my Great Nephew who’s into 3D printing. I added a base to the stl for him. Says it looks like a game piece. He printed pretty small, nice details on it.

[scottp55]

You know I'm a sucker for details Bill.
Young beaver kits a month ago, Mom was all slick and smooth...Jr. had cowlicks all over:)
Same with wet racoons and otters when they're half dry.
Can't imagine modelling yet...just like the character and details.

Thanks for the info!
Great Nephew did a good job(but I still prefer wood:)
Good luck with the Apple!!
Beautiful wood!!
scott

[BillK]

Be careful carving bears.

This morning for the first time in 29 years living here we had a bear in our yard two days after carving a bear.

My wife’s friend says I should carve a giraffe and see what happens.

[mtylerfl]

Wowzaa!

[scottp55]

Maybe try a Koala Bear instead of a giraffe Bill?
Easier to bring in come Winter!

I thought it was someone else who carved a "Bear Magnet" ....didn't think it was you:)

[BillK]

Maybe try a Koala Bear instead of a giraffe Bill?
Easier to bring in come Winter!

I thought it was someone else who carved a "Bear Magnet" ....didn't think it was you:)

Well now you got me looking for Koala pictures!

Wowzaa!

Thanks for commenting on the carving, but did you see the bear in the backyard pics?

[mtylerfl]

That is an all-inclusive “Wowzaa!”, Bill!

[scottp55]

IF you carve a Koala....stock up on eucalyptus leaves First

[BillK]

I actually have a piece of eucalyptus wood down in the shop.

[BillK]

Decided I should give the bear another try after tweaking the model a little more. This time in a nice apple branch. I added a slightly curved back, convex this time, and you can see from the picture I didn’t go too deep into the branch. The result was getting a lot of subtle color variations in the carve area. One coat of polymerized Linseed Oil, one coat of Linwax heat gunned in. Dry overnight and buffed out.

Thanks for looking, again.