Back to the World, Part Two: Loon Texturing

When I began work on this loon for the 2011 World Pairs competition at the Ward World Championship, it had been about 12 years since I had done a decorative carving. When the time came to texture this project, I found it was helpful to practice on a piece of scrap wood before working on the loon. Texturing a piece as large as this loon, it can become tedious to work in the same area or do the same thing for long periods of time. The position in which you need to hold the bird may be awkward or an area may be difficult to reach. To combat the tedium I move from area to area as I work. When doing this, it is important to complete an area first or move evenly from side to side to achieve balance. I always work evenly by completing both sides of an area in one sitting. This is because my mood can be completely different when I resume work and my texturing might be tighter or looser than it had been before I stopped. I want to be sure all areas match from side to side.

As you will see, on this loon there are some areas that I will burn but also texture.

Read the rest of this article in Wildfowl Carving Magazine's Fall 2013 issue. Click here to purchase this issue, while supplies last!