Check out my new squid hook as well as four other lovelies on eBay!
And here she is:
This is my third hook in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea series... something so fascinating about creatures so different to humans. Alien, yet prolific. I can only wonder what I could do with all those arms!!! (I might could work four or five lathes at the same time! hee hee!)
I really enjoyed making this hook -- it was quite time-consuming, but well worth the effort. I knew that I wanted to make a squid hook and so started out by turning an appropriate shape -- three "bubbles" rising from the deep, culminating in the shape of a squid.
It may sound odd, but I actually inlaid the eye first, before even defining the carved and painted form of the squid. I chose a Blue Opal that seemed to be the right shape and coloration. I then hand-carved a recess for the stone to sit in, and then inlaid the stone. (Indeed, this is a real opal, not an imitation). After seating the stone in the wood, I then carved all the offending surfaces so that the opal would be flush with the curve of the wood.
After this, I finished the rest of the hook, (sanded and polished), before beginning the carving. After making a suitably textured "skin" for this brand new squid, I then painted it in metallic acrylics. I've been fascinated watching documentary footage of the incredible undulating patterns that squids produce under the water -- for communication and other purposes. I tried to capture this by applying multiple layers of color, culminating in golden-colored dots, which add to the jewel-like appearance of the piece.
I think the opal is a perfect choice for an eye -- it reflects the natural state of squiddy affairs -- they do seem to have "watery" eyes. This particular stone has a stunning green flash when you turn it in the light! (The perfect "glint of intelligence" from our undersea friend!)
Anyway, I enjoyed making this piece very much -- please check her out!
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