Cat's Eye Carving

Willow carving

This was an interesting commission, my customer asked me if I could carve a piece of willow that had lain outside for a few years it had been covered up, and the bark had offered some protection.

She had planted this tree in memory of her husband and sadly the tree died.

I made a small test on the wood, it was just carve-able, probably another year and I think that it would have gone too far, I had to treat it for woodworm.

Her idea was some creatures in and around the trunk, there was a branch stump that I could carve a small mouse curled up in and one further up that I carved into the nose of the Squirrel. Carving end grain is difficult, but I used sharp tools to cut across the grain.

Using the nature of the wood, I was able to carve the Owls feathers, the oil really brought out some beautiful colours.

The wood wasn’t rotten, but it was heading that way, so carving any real detail wasn’t possible, so I carved the shapes of the animals, working with the wood.

I treated the wood with raw linseed oil to help protect the carving as it is going to be put outside.

The spider in her web was a late addition.

Due to the quality of the wood, this was a challenging commission. but one I thoroughly enjoyed rising to.