Yes Philip , this old dog is still learning new tricks
I had to look up Joseph Cotton. He appears to have been quite famous. I agree, there was some resemblance although unintended.
In case anyone wonders, I haven't given up There are more pics on the way.
Progress pics can also be viewed on the Ventriloquist Central Blog.
Tanks fer lookin!

Jim

Really like what you have going here. I tried my hand at carving a head years ago and it was an epic fail. Nice job!

Can't wait to see more.

Here's some more progress pixs from Jim.

Thank you for posting the Pics Donald,
Jim

Wouldn't have it any other way. There are still so, so many more people that need to see your GREAT work.

Thank you Chris.
Jim

Not only beautiful work but beautiful pictures. I like the woodcarving tools in the background.

How do you hollow out the head? I imagine that must be the hardest part--to avoid making it too thin.

JIm, do you have some background in art or sculpting? Or are you just naturally artistic? I'm amazed that someone with no experience is turning out such gorgeous work.

Bob

Wow this is great to see how a talented carver make a vent figure head step by step.

BTW it's look like you use several pieces of wood and glue it together, how many and how thick are they?
Thanks!

Hi everyone. Thanks for the comments. I am currently having trouble with the home computer so haven't been online all week.

Bob,
I have a background of sorts in art as I have been drawing and painting since I was a kid. I studied art at a Wis. university for 1 semester many years ago until due to lack of funds I dissenrolled and joined the navy. I also took art every year in grade and highschool. Despite all that I am mainly self taught from books and drawing ,painting and carving every spare minute I can find.

I have now been carving about 21 years.

Magical Artist,

I use traditional hand carving tools (gouges, chisels) made in Switzerland. I hollow out the head with a spoonbent gouge .

Budihaha,
This current project is several 3/4 inch thick Basswood boards glued together. Sorry but I can't remember how many.

Jim, you are one terrific talent!! What a great looking figure and I loved the different stages of development. Keep up the great work! You are one of our rising, figure-making stars!!

Mark

Markwade@kidshowvent.com

Thank you Mark!

Jim

Here is the latest from Jim.

Thanks for posting the pictures Donald.

This guy will have side to side eyes ( not self centering, they stay where you put them) and slot jaw.
He looks like he has been eating from the jam jar at present but should clean up nicely I hope:)

He's looking great Jim! Nice Work!

Jim:

May I suggest that if the eyes are not going to be self-centering, you might want a little notch or rest position in the center so that the vent can center the eyes by feel rather than having to look at the figure to see if the eyes are in the right place. The one figure I have without self-centering eyes is a pain to manipulate. Perhaps you might re-consider making the eyes self-centering.

Respectfully,

Bob

Thanks Dave!

Bob, thanks for the info. I may make them self centering after all. Winchell suggests in his book to make the eyes look at the vent when the control is released. Any opinions on that type of setup?

Jim

Jim,

As a career audience member, I suggest that true self centering to the audience is the way to go. After all, it is not the vent who is paying the dummy to be there. With true self centering eyes, you are then left with the ability to make small movements with the neck to be able to stare down an individual "heckler" or someone you have a side dialogue with. Then with additional neck movement, you can still look at the vent. Eyes are the window to the soul. You want to maintain eye contact with the most important people in the room and in this case that is decidedly NOT the vent.

Steve

http://www.thedummyshoppe.com/blog

My very very first vent figure was a toy Jerry (Was for a great many of us, eh?), and the eyes were painted on to "look at the ventriloquist." Problem is, for a left-handed ventriloquist,like me, they were always looking away!

-Philip

Winchell himself did not use self centering eyes. He did however place a pin above the eye lever to identify where the center was located. I did a blog a while back showing the actual control stick of Winchell's Jerry Mahoney figure.
Dan
http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com