Hey, that turned out slick, you really have a knack for making horns!I have been working on another Powder Horn for a couple of days and wanted to take photos of the project to share as I went along. Of course I forgot to do so as I got deeper into the job...
This horn is from a steer and a nice size (over 12" finished), with some white for the lower portion of the Powder Horn. It was very raw as you can see, and I couldn't remove all the rough parts, however to my eye the 'imperfections' add some unique character and somehow charm. With this surface to work with I decided to just carve in some heavier lines to create a broad design.
I wanted to do some bold profile 'turnings' in the upper end and at the spout. As I worked the horn I ran into some layers of horn that were lifting (it's like micro-layers of an onion, but fingernail-like material). Damn. So, I had to carve/cut below those liftings to get into more solid horn. There went my design.
I tinted the horn and did a secondary tinting inside the arched carvings. (For adding color, I use a dye mixture, which does penetrate into the horn. I then seal it with several lifght applications of shellac and then a supercoat of Paste Wax for a very durable finish,) I don't know where I got the idea of adding color to the design, but I think it adds an almost Pennsylvania-Dutch feeling to this one. I might continue with this coloring method and add some more folk elements in the body if I have more clean space to work with.
This is my Number 4. The next one will be another creative adventure, no doubt.
Thanks!
I am glad you like it! I really enjoy making these and wish I had more time to make many more!
Gotta give credit where credit is due
It's a darn sight better than what I could come up with.
Thank you, sir!Gotta give credit where credit is due
Thank you, thats a very nice compliment
Many thanks!
To trigger the sensitive
I think you should just relax and not be so sensitive. God forbid someone tell you a “ why did Washingtonn cross the Delaware…” joke. Or in the immortal words of Sargent Hulka “lighten up Francis”
Love the color ,it rocks. And the "impperfections" remind me of birch bark . Its gorgeous!I have been working on another Powder Horn for a couple of days and wanted to take photos of the project to share as I went along. Of course I forgot to do so as I got deeper into the job
This horn is from a steer and a nice size (over 12" finished), with some white for the lower portion of the Powder Horn. It was very raw as you can see, and I couldn't remove all the rough parts, however to my eye the 'imperfections' add some unique character and somehow charm. With this surface to work with I decided to just carve in some heavier lines to create a broad design.
I wanted to do some bold profile 'turnings' in the upper end and at the spout. As I worked the horn I ran into some layers of horn that were lifting (it's like micro-layers of an onion, but fingernail-like material). Damn. So, I had to carve/cut below those liftings to get into more solid horn. There went my design.
I tinted the horn and did a secondary tinting inside the arched carvings. (For adding color, I use a dye mixture, which does penetrate into the horn. I then seal it with several lifght applications of shellac and then a supercoat of Paste Wax for a very durable finish,) I don't know where I got the idea of adding color to the design, but I think it adds an almost Pennsylvania-Dutch feeling to this one. I might continue with this coloring method and add some more folk elements in the body if I have more clean space to work with.
This is my Number 4. The next one will be another creative adventure, no doubt.
