Wood Slab Meet Soapstone

I found a slab of wood wanting to be shaped and a chunk of red soapstone with similar needs.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

I sketched a shape on a damp piece of paper from my toolbox, and now we’ll see how wood and rock might come together.

Winged Penis, Clay and Wood Heads, and a Serpent

I’ve been playing with clay and carving wood.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

Playing with some forms in clay. I was watching a Mary Beard BBC doc on Rome and she showed a Fascinus and I thought I’d make one. The gray head is an idea I’ll do in white alabaster or granite next.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

I started a goofy little skull in basswood, and I’m still working on the slab serpent.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

Basswood Head Carvings

Basswood head carvings with acrylic paint.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

Almost done. One more layer of accent paint and they’re ready for a satin finish.

Serpent Bas-Relief

Today I’m working on...

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

I started roughing-out a “primitive” serpent bas-relief on a green wood slab.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

 Treating the slab with Pentacryl to limit cracking of the green wood when I’m done for the day.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

And I whittled-away on these two blokes some more.

Sketchbook to Project IV

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

Extinction ©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

Clay Head

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

Abstract head in progress using air-dry clay. Sketchbook drawings with hopeful notes about executing them in wood and/or stone.

Carving Heads This Morning

It’s sorta cold outside this morning. Started carving a couple of heads in basswood. No plan really,

just kinda whittling away.

©️2019 Montgomery J Nelson

The morning sun shines right on my small woodworking bench, which feels lovely this morning.

If it’s in my studio and it’s sharp, it’ll have been made by FLEXCUT, MORAKNIV, PFEIL, GRANDFORS BRUKS, or LIE-NIELSEN.