Beaver News #50 – April 10, 2017

This is a behind-the-scenes video that gives you a glimpse into how Mark carves the Grizzly that is featured on our Mare’s Leg Rig “Grizz“. It’s a two part series and this is part 1.

We jump in right after Mark has traced the outlines onto the leather and used the swivel knife to cut the outline out. Now he shows you how he does the carving, the pressing and the relief, this is still all the basics, as you will see.

Then he is bringing the carving out by accenting the edges, like a 3D effect. For that he uses a stamping tool, and the object is to using pressure, pushing down and smoothing it out at the same time, but the leather has to have just the right dampness for that.

When he makes the hair, and highlights the hair, the carving is going to stand out like the animal is charging you with the hair all up in hackles.

Every one of our carvings, even though there are similarities, is unique, just like every animal or every person is unique. There is not two that are identical.