This is only the second one I have done on a board like this one.  Brad is going to put his Euro mount on the top half of the board.  I debated for a long time on how to darken the board (atleast on the top half) so the skull would stand out better.  

Finally decided to stain the whole board except for the area I was going to carve and burn.  Learned a lesson about staining.  Basically, that the stain will travel with the grain underneath painters tape.  Had to take a little router and knock off about an eighth inch of the area where the inscription goes to get past where the stain had sunk in the grain.  

Here is the photo Brad sent me.  His first buck taken with a traditional bow.  



These pics will bring you up to where I finished tonight:

Stunning........WOW!!!

Its always good to see your work.Cant wait to see it finnished.
   Thanks

HEY! I know that guy! Looking good Chip!

What a great Idea.

Do have a question.
Chip could this be done on the horizontal instead of vertical or is board to narrow to hold a skull.

Would the grain of the wood affect your carving and burning

Looks good...brad should be mailing me his skull anyday now...i'll be sure to do top notch work to match the carving!

It can be done horizontal!  The Howard Hill piece was horizontal.  I can get boards with different lengths between the bark, but there is a limit to how wide.  I have some that are 10 inches between the bark.  

Also, I could request my wood supplier to try to find a board where the bark on each side is pretty parallel.  Alot of the longer boards get narrower as you go up the board and may not look real good horizontal.

Do you have something in mind?  Raccoon Skull, maybe?  Or just thinking of the first trad buck sometime in the future?

Just thinking ahead Chip you know could have you do 4 panel one
"The Ones I Missed".
Buck, Hog, Osceola and raccoon.

Les,
not sure even you could afford that, LOL!  Of course it would be nice to do pics of some live animals for a change!

waiting list is up to 18 so get your orders in!

Tom,
How do you like how I did the plaque?  I like it alot better than how we did yours!

I tell ya, your work is excellent!

Man you've got some talent!

You have talent for sure

Chip I agree I like it that way a lot more!

I have a bear skull we could play with. Down the road ill find a picture of a nice bear and you can do it up for a change of pace!

Awesome!!!    


Bill

man you have a gift that is amazing!

Very nice!

Dear Brad  sure hope you will post the finished plaque when your done.

Amazing how good some of the work is here on TG......

made some progress, still got alot of work to do on the deer

Dang!!!