Snake on a stick!

I know it sounds like the latest deep-fried delicacy from the state fair, but maybe I'll come up with a better name. I just completed this staff/walking stick. It is about 60" tall from some twisted wood I got last Thanksgiving in Alabama. I think it really wanted to be a snake and I was inspired by the works of David Stehly in Pennsylvania to finally attempt one. I am pleased with how it turned out, although my wife and daughter can bearly stand to look at it! I plan to enter it in a couple of contests, maybe I'll get lucky. I should have some more pictures posted in my vimeo gallery later today, but here's some for now. Thanks mucho for looking! Here is the link to all the photos http://picasaweb.google.com/mpounders1/FluidByNature#

"Walking in Memphis"

"....walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale" is how the song goes. I finished this carving a few days ago. It is inspired by the song and a small photo of a guitar player in a magazine ad. I've studied and tried to figure out how to capture the energy and passion you see in some musicians for about 6 months. I really struggled with the positioning and tried clay models and other things before finally just starting and working it out as I went along! I carved different areas out of separate pieces of wood for strength and to allow me to accurately position things exactly as I wanted it to look. The guitar has over 40 separate pieces. Thanks for looking! Click on the pictures at the side and zoom in to get a close look at the details!!!!
(More pictures here too http://picasaweb.google.com/mpounders1/WalkingInMemphis# )

Finishing up a carving

I've been working to complete a carving to enter in a contest and just finished it the past weekend. I may not post any pictures of it until after the 30th, but here is a "preview" to keep you interested! I have started a snake cane, in the David Stehly style (http://www.artsticks.com/ ), and I am continuing to work on ornaments and holiday stuff in between projects. I have registered for a week-long carving seminar in northwest Arkansas in Spetember, and will be taking a class from the renowned carver Adina Denton Huckins! I am really looking forward to this and hope to take my carvings to a higher level! I am also trying to practice for some other contests, but will be posting pictures of completed work within the next week of those things. Thanks for looking!