carved trout

[Chunky]

Well, I am just finishing up another fish carving. This one is a trout, it did not turn out as well as my bass (that you may remember). I painted it, was not happy, stripped it and painted it again....still not great, but I have over a hundred hours in it already and want to work on a duck I have started. Here are a couple of pics. I hope. The rocks are also carved, but the drift wood is natural.

[txrattler]

Man...that looks great to me Mark!

[LostHawg]

Dude Mark!!!! That dude is rockin'. Stick it under the water and it'd look real.

Good job.

[Brute Killer]

it did not turn out as well as my bass

That bass must be phenomenal.

[tinman]

...did he say that the "rocks are carved"???

Looks great to me too!

[Steve W]

how much is the admission price for the tour of that room?
the rocks are carved and painted also?

DUDE --back away from the fish, it's beautiful!

do you sleep? lol

[Chunky]

back by popular demand....my bass

here is a pick of the real rocks next to my carved rocks.

admission is always free, and in fact you get unlimited hunting stories and videos and a free drink...with any visit to the Lost Cow Ranch Hunting Room.
Advanced notice normally required, but will occasionly accept walk-ins.

[TXJon]

Those are pretty amazing.

What kind of wood are you carving? Do you use rotary tools, or gouges and all that? How much time do you have in the carving, without the finish work?

The rocks look great too, but I have to ask "why?". I can't tell which are rocks and which are carved, but if you already have the rocks....

[txrattler]

Truely talented Mark. If I attempted one of those I am afraid it would turn out looking like a partially eaten one that I had wrapped in foil and staying warm all night in my campfire coals from the evening before. Not a pretty sight but taste really good

[Chunky]

Thanks for all your kind words...I must say that it is not all that difficult, really. I take a class for 3 hours once a week. Any of you could do as well, it just takes time.

The wood is Tupelo, although many use Basswood as well.

I use 90 per cent power tools, Dremel type, and a little hand work. Nobody trusts me with anything too sharp.

I carved the rocks for two reasons, one they are flattened on the bottom so they appear to sit down in the river bottom and the real ones stood up...looking funny.....and I got so much grief with I grabbed the glue bottle from my fellow stundents and the instructor that I gave in to peer pressure.

I will take some wild guesses on the time it took me.
For the Bass
Carving the wood down to the right shape about 20 hours.
sanding about 5 hours, burning the scales in about 8 hours. doing the fins about 4 hours, painting about 8 hours, glossing with finish 2 hours. I figured I had about 50 hours in the Bass

I have twice that in the trout, because of making the base, and having to paint it twice and strip it down once.

You know I love you guys, but you are probably not getting a carved fish for Christmas

These are my first two finished projects, I am sure with experience you could cut the time in half or more. If I ever get good enough to finish one in under 20 hours...I may take some requests or make some as awards or raffle items.

Thanks again for your compliments. I do appreciate it.

Mark

[TradAg02]

Great work Mark.

[stikshooter]

Very nice work mark,I would love to get to your place and see that game room.Mark, which rocks are real and which are carved? Once again very talented.

[Mojo68]

Mark you have a natural talent with your hands. You should have been a massage dude in Vegas with that talent. No, that's really nice looking work.

[Bill]

Don't make it sound easier than it really is, you have a God-given talent.

[Spot N Stalk]

That is just amazing Chunky,
You are a real craftsman. Thank you for sharing.