Author Topic: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn  (Read 2108 times)

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« on: February 21, 2021, 06:19:58 AM »
My boys had this little horn laying around, their granddad Louie P. gave them to play with. I wanted to try my hand at scrimshaw but not so good at drawing so I asked my 15 yr old to draw me a buck deer head on the little horn...he did amazing...i just finished scratching it in. Can I use black India ink or is there something else that would be better to use?? I'm still very green and just getting started at horning so any and all help will be appreciated deeply!
I made my own scrimshaw scribe out of a sharpened sewing needle and a piece of dowel I'll include a pic with the pic of finished horn

scratched in and inked!

This was my first attempt...next one i do won't be on a horn my boys have played with for a couple years... I see now that I need to have the horn very well polished before scratching in the image... I'll keep practicing and learning!
« Last Edit: February 21, 2021, 05:45:52 PM by vandeusen1987 »

Offline Dave Marsh

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 803
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2021, 06:49:43 AM »
Looks great.  Scratch it in.  I used india ink on mine. 
"Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither freedom nor security."
~ Benjamin Franklin

Offline wildthing

  • Starting Member
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2021, 01:28:35 AM »
look.   john
s good to me.  Deer looks a little ticked off

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2021, 02:52:36 AM »
My wife said the same thing!

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2021, 02:55:21 AM »
Of course I don't recall ever seeing a deer that looked very happy

Offline Clark Badgett

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2199
  • Oklahoma
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2021, 03:38:40 AM »
Angry Bambi  ;D
Psalms 144

Offline alyce-james

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 908
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2021, 03:59:19 AM »
vandeusen1987; Great start. I prepare my horn first. My tool of chose is a X-Acto knife with blade selection. Some blades I modify to my liking. Your line selection is not limited to straight. Hand comfort is an added extra. Good luck with your venture. Have a great week. AJ.
 
"Candy is Dandy but Liquor is Quicker". by Poet Ogden Nash 1931.

Offline aaronc

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 762
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2021, 07:35:09 PM »
I like India ink.
- Aaron C
At the work bench.

donal_h

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2021, 06:25:51 PM »
That looks great and is something that you both put effort into, so is a special horn indeed.

Offline David G

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 113
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2021, 07:58:16 PM »
Hold on to that horn...may seem like a small thing now but in time....

Offline Hungry Horse

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5419
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2021, 09:10:00 PM »
 Yep, an exacto small diameter blade holder works great if  you add a little padding to it. I like the blades with the curved hook bill on them, similar to the shape of the tool you built. Fine cross hatching can be used to create different degrees of shading depending on how close together the lines are. The cross hatching will take your work to a whole new level. India ink works fine for filling the cuts. But if you didn’t polish out the scratches it’ll accent those also.

  Hungry Horse

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2021, 02:48:57 AM »
Thanks for all the great advice I will definitely put it to good use

Offline Jerry V Lape

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3021
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2021, 09:12:18 AM »
Grumbacher oil paint works to color you scrim too.  I wipe or use an artist brush to apply and then use alcohol on a cloth to wipe away the excess in a few minutes.  It doesn't run all over the place and is easy to manage.  As I finish a section it gets paint so I can see where extra attention is required. 

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2021, 09:37:24 AM »
Anybody ever do or see...maybe even have pictures...scrim on a buffalo horn or other black horn done with white ink? I've seen red scrim on buffalo but not white...would love to see it...probably going to try it!

Offline louieparker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2021, 04:02:49 PM »
I believe this horn is by Scott and Cathy Silby...LP


Offline Marcruger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3668
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #15 on: March 02, 2021, 05:58:54 PM »
Perhaps white oil paint versus ink?

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #16 on: March 03, 2021, 08:23:32 AM »
Thanks for sharing that photo...I like the look of that and I believe I'm going to give it a try...i have some white tattoo ink I think would work...ill post pics when I try it out

Offline Frozen Run

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 797
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #17 on: March 08, 2021, 07:24:26 AM »
Of course I don't recall ever seeing a deer that looked very happy

The deer is very believable. The first deer I ever encountered in the woods had just materialized out of the mist about 35 yards ahead and gave me a really dirty look as it ran past me at a diagonal, I was so taken aback by the slight that I hesitated and my friend's dad ended up drilling it. Just a mean, dirty, indignant look it gave me, nothing like the movies. I like your deer.

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #18 on: March 08, 2021, 08:26:17 AM »
Lol...my parents raise deer...they even look angry when you take them feed! I believe they think a little to highly of themselves!

Offline Frozen Run

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 797
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #19 on: March 08, 2021, 10:01:06 AM »
I'm not sure if you know about the Honourable Company of Horners, but it's another great place to learn:

https://www.hornguild.org/

Offline Not English

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 587
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #20 on: March 11, 2021, 01:23:31 AM »
Vandeuzen, an old horner whose name escapes me told me to  use a titanium white acrylic oil paint. It works really well. A non acrylic would probably work as well. His point was that titanium white was important because of it's color/tint.

Dave

vandeusen1987

  • Guest
Re: First attempt at scrimshaw on a horn
« Reply #21 on: March 11, 2021, 05:22:05 AM »
Thanks for the info Dave I'll look into that...thanks again!