Rolling Caricature Animals

Easy-to-carve critters are delightfully mobile

By Desiree Hajny

These lovable critters are a great way to introduce others to carving. They make great conversation starters. People can’t resist picking them up once they see them rolling down the table. They’re surprisingly easy to carve and after you get a feel for the technique, you’ll be able to create a whole herd in no time.

I got my inspiration for these designs in 1987. I was teaching a woodcarving seminar in Anchorage, Alaska. One of the students brought in a small bear that was carved so that when you put it on a flat surface and nudged it from behind, it would roll over and land face up. I though this was an interesting idea and developed a number of carved animals that would do the same thing. I hope you enjoy this project as much as I did!

Materials:
• Basswood: 2″ x 3″ x 3 1/2″ (51mm x 76mm x 89mm)
• Acrylic paint: black, white, red
• Paintbrushes of choice

Tools:
• #5 fishtail gouge: 13mm
• #5 gouge: 22mm
• #11 veiner: 6mm
• 45º V-tool: 10mm
• Detail knife
• Woodburner with fine tip (optional)

CLICK HERE to download the Rolling Caricatures Pony Pattern.

CLICK HERE to download the Rolling Caricatures Elephant Pattern.

CLICK HERE to download the Rolling Caricatures Bison Pattern.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cut out the side view. Transfer the side-view pattern to the blank. Then cut the side view with a bandsaw or coping saw. Transfer the top and bottom view patterns to the blank. Mark the areas to be removed.
2. Begin rough-shaping the piece. Remove the marked areas with a 13mm #5 fishtail gouge. Then draw in the saddle details, and mark the parts to be removed. Work on both sides for a symmetrical result.
3. Outline the details. Draw in any detail lines that have been carved off using the pattern for reference. Follow the sketched lines to outline the details with a 10mm 45º V-tool.
4. Continue shaping the horse. Relieve the saddle and neck areas up to the V-cuts. Use a fishtail gouge to continue roughing out the horse. Redraw your reference lines as often as necessary.
5. Separate the legs. Sketch on the bottom hoof details. Use a 6mm #11 veiner to separate the legs.
6. Shape the legs. Mark the hoof details. Use a V-tool to cut along your lines. Then round the legs with a detail knife.
7. Shape the hooves. Use a detail knife to round each hoof and taper them to the legs.
8. Rough out the face. Mark the bridle details. Cut off the corners of the nostrils with a detail knife and cut along the bridle lines with a V-tool.
9. Shape the saddle area. Cut up to the saddle, using a 22mm #5 gouge. Round and shape the area evenly on both sides.
10. Draw in the eyes and mouth. Make a V-cut along the top portion of the eyeball and along the mouth line.
11. Shape the eye. Make a stop cut along the bottom part of the eye with a detail knife. Then round the eye with a detail knife.
12. Undercut the facial details. Use a13mm #5 fishtail gouge to undercut the eyeball in the eye socket and the bridle.
13. Shape the nose. Draw on the nose details. Undercut the bridle with a fishtail gouge and carve in the nostrils with a V-tool.
14. Add the blanket details. Draw the blanket on. Then define those lines with a V-tool.
15. Round and shape the shoulders. Use a 22mm #5 gouge and work on both sides to achieve a symmetrical appearance
16. Add texture to the mane and tail. Draw the texture details in. Then use a V-tool to add the texture.
17. Detail the bottom of the hooves. Draw in the details and  cut them with a V-tool. Examine the horse from different angles and touch up any necessary areas.
18. Burn in the final details. Use a fine woodburning tip to burn in the eye and outline the bridle.

Painting Notes

I paint this horse using three colors; black and white for the horse and red for the saddle. Given that there are so many different colors of horses, nearly any color combination will work. I use washes of color, which I get by diluting acrylic paint with water to the consistency of skim milk. That way I can control the build up of color, but still see the grain.

 

For further information about animal carving read Carving Bears and Carving Deer by Desiree Hajny. The books are available from www.foxchapelpublishing.com for $12.99 each plus S&H.