Project by mtnwild | posted 06-19-2011 01:09 AM | 4453 views | 3 times favorited | 42 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
Imagine an octopus climbs to the top of an old pier pilling at high tide and ambushes a fish.
That’s the premise here.
Kind of awkward to visualize, the fish is upside down in the struggle, that might help.
I used a piece of firewood, tiger maple. Saved from my friends seasoned firewood stack.
Maple pier and lower stick. Leopard wood for the big insert with rosewood and purple heart inserts for accents.
My main inspiration for this came from watching a nature film at sometime. I just remember being fascinated at the octopuses killing ability. Amazing.
Then, MichaelA, did that cool sculpture of his and fanned the flames on this idea. Thanks Michael!
Very comfortable to hold. The weather is cloudy and rainy but finished this today and wanted to post. So, will get some good sunshine pictures later, if you want.
Sorry Rivergirl, still no penguin…..............
Hope you all enjoy….............
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
42 comments so far
Druid
home | projects | blog
2205 posts in 3771 days
#1 posted 06-19-2011 01:16 AM
Looks good Jack. What type of finish did you use?
-- John, British Columbia, Canada
learnin2do
home | projects | blog
891 posts in 3827 days
#2 posted 06-19-2011 01:19 AM
Get outta town!!! Your eatin my heart out!! Now make a chair out of it and send it here! – I haven’t even finished the octopus bench & table! You just pumped out the angel!! Slow down!
-- ~christine @ used2btrees
mtnwild
home | projects | blog
3474 posts in 4503 days
#3 posted 06-19-2011 01:38 AM
Thanks John, I use boiled linseed oil.
Christine, thanks and you have been doing great yourself. Haven’t commented much lately but been seeing your cool new projects. You are moving along too.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
learnin2do
home | projects | blog
891 posts in 3827 days
#4 posted 06-19-2011 02:29 AM
- but you finish things! -that is why they look so spectacular -your hours of work show!
-- ~christine @ used2btrees
JeffStarr
home | projects | blog
90 posts in 4312 days
#5 posted 06-19-2011 02:41 AM
Very creative, great work. Your work looks so lifelike, I love it!
-- "When was the last time you did something special for your gun?" www.jeffstarrstudio.com
Occie gilliam
home | projects | blog
505 posts in 4272 days
#6 posted 06-19-2011 03:38 AM
yes, This is good and the finish is greatas great Learnin said
Jack! Do they have cane events? there is something special about cane carving.
hay Jack i could send you some coffee wood. Its very hard and great shapes’
I remember as a kid going to town and seeing men siting in the park carving on their canes ,
. it there was five, four would be cutting.
that was Pulaski Tenn, I heard rumor that the town was the birth place of the KKK
boy have thing changed, except for the whittling
cutting on a piece wood for us men and some women is as about normal as us….. I wont say the other
..........i do go on hello, is there anyone out there???????
-- OC down in Costa Rica. come down and see me some time. I'll keep the light on for you [email protected] mail.com
MichaelA
home | projects | blog
778 posts in 3864 days
#7 posted 06-19-2011 04:02 AM
Wow!!! Jack you did it and it is fabulous. Packed with action and that poor fish is lunch!!!Also thanks for the complement! It looks also like the sun is reflecting the ripples of the water on the octopus.Outstanding!!!!!!!
-- The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. "Helen Keller"
terrilynne
home | projects | blog
836 posts in 3869 days
#8 posted 06-19-2011 04:35 AM
I must say that when Michael and I saw this we were both so tickled! Your art is so life like. Very beautiful.
-- Terri, Rocky Mountain High Colorado!
knottysticks
home | projects | blog
296 posts in 4005 days
#9 posted 06-19-2011 04:45 AM
Damm your gettin’ dam good at this cane thing- GREAT job!!!
-- Everyday above ground is a good day.
LittlePaw
home | projects | blog
1572 posts in 4054 days
#10 posted 06-19-2011 05:28 PM
I was fascinated by the action of your octopus. I saw it live just under the surface capturing the fish – turning, writhing and eventually eating his catch. It brought back memories of my dives and spearfishing trips! As Bob Hope used to sing, “Thanks for the memories . . .” I too love to work on tiger (fiddleback) maple, especially when it’s done and I apply the finish on it, the ripple just jump out at me. Better still, every time I reapply tung oil, the ripples get even more vivid . . . love it – your octopus, I mean.
-- LittlePAW - The sweetest sound in my shop, next to Mozart, is what a hand plane makes slicing a ribbon.
WoodenFrog
home | projects | blog
2737 posts in 3889 days
#11 posted 06-19-2011 07:45 PM
I wish i had your great talent! this is super duper!
Great work on it, and keep them coming!
-- Robert B. Sabina, Ohio..... http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodenfrogWoodenProd
mmh
home | projects | blog
3680 posts in 4698 days
#12 posted 06-19-2011 07:57 PM
An extraordinary piece of work! I love the carving, it’s sophisticated design and elegant lines are intriguing. I also like the way you managed the structural integrity with your design and fabrication. Excellent job!
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
mtnwild
home | projects | blog
3474 posts in 4503 days
#13 posted 06-19-2011 08:29 PM
Thanks!! You folks make me smile.
Thanks Jeff, good to hear from you.
, Great to hear your octopus sculpture is so popular. It’s so cool…...... Knotty sticks, who knew?, I’m sure having fun with them. Thanks LittlePaw, just what I was going for. Glad you liked it. Thanks WoodenFrog, it’s a gift and a curse…...;)............ Thanks Meilie, I don’t know about the sophisticated part, but I did manage to keep it strong. It was partly planed but they always take on a life of their own. I’m never really sure about what I.m doing. Just figure I’ll learn on the way. Thanks all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1Occie, no cane meetings. Never heard of any around here. I hear you, I can get going myself some times.
Thanks Michael and Terri
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Roman - THE BOOTMAN
home | projects | blog
1060 posts in 3662 days
#14 posted 06-19-2011 08:38 PM
You’ve used the wood well. Design and grain all go well together. Super carving. RH
-- Author of POWER CARVING BOOTS & SHOES - Schiffer Publishing. Available online or your favourite bookstore.
mtnwild
home | projects | blog
3474 posts in 4503 days
#15 posted 06-19-2011 08:42 PM
Thanks Roman!
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 42 comments
Have your say...