Kentucke Map Horn

[Frozen Run]

That's something you could sit down in front of a fireplace with and lose track of time admiring. What an outstanding horn!

I also notice you have a Coulter Precision scribe, I own a number of his items and I love them.

[hawkeye]

Very nice horn,scrimshaw clean and sharp.
A real eyecatcher for sure.
Thanks for sharing, hope you gonna give it a nice color to.
Hawkeye

[aaronc]

I agree with Capt Crosby. Flawless as far as I can tell.

Amazing!  Just amazing.

I think Tim expressed my feelings, as well. I think the engraving is as good as I've seen.
Bob

Thank You Aaron.... I should have known as art and scrimshaw go hand in hand. Than is beautiful work and I appreciate the pictures. I concur with Tim Crosby in that this is the finest, as in high quality and fine as in delicate work I have ever seen. A piece of high art in the horners world. Beautiful piece. Looking forward to see more of your work down the road...
Kind Regards
Frank Barker

Just fabulous work. What a pleasure to see. Thank you for showing your work.
Cheers Richard

Thank you guys for the comments and taking time to look over my efforts.

[aaronc]

Not surprised at the time it took to do that work. The detail and quality of the engraving is done to the highest standard. My hat is off to you. Beautiful work and thanks for sharing it.

John

John Proud I admire your work a great deal and follow it every chance I get. Truly appreciate your response.

-Aaron

[aaronc]

Hey Aaron:  Nice work on your map horn!  Do you use India ink?  Have you tried your hand at scrimming in color?  If you do use regular artist's oils or colored inks. anyway nice work!  Hugh Toenjes

Hugh, thanks for looking and the kind words. Yes India Ink is all I have used. I have pretty much emptied out 1 bottle with the horns I have scrimshawed. I did try color once...I used the red ink for some British soldiers. I found it a little faint and next time I would probably try the artist oils if I wanted more vibrance. For future horns I plan to use a variety of things to achieve different shading, even blacks. I like some variance on most of my projects. 

-Aaron

[aaronc]

That's something you could sit down in front of a fireplace with and lose track of time admiring. What an outstanding horn!

I also notice you have a Coulter Precision scribe, I own a number of his items and I love them.

Thank you,..and yes I  have several Coulter Precisions and mainly use just the one. I'm still using the same tip that came on it. They are great tools.

Very nice horn,scrimshaw clean and sharp.
A real eyecatcher for sure.
Thanks for sharing, hope you gonna give it a nice color to.
Hawkeye

The horn was bought as an in the white horn and came to my house for the scrimshaw.  Pics posted were the finished product. Thanks for the response and looking.

-Aaron

[aaronc]

I'll leave you guys with a few in process pics. I knew I had a ton of time in it and took quite a few pics along the way, mainly to keep for my daughter because this was eventually leaving the house. I pencil everything in freehand and if using reference it is just drawn hand to eye. Everything just goes on in layers. Merry Christmas - Aaron C

[Bob Gerard]

Very beautiful work- Many uncounted hours have gone into that horn!
I haven’t seen that tool you use. Does it carve the horn?
Bob

[aaronc]

Very beautiful work- Many uncounted hours have gone into that horn!
I haven’t seen that tool you use. Does it carve the horn?
Bob

Sort of speak yes. You need to create a channel for the ink to set in. A lot of people use homemade tools from nails or sharpened metal of whatever kind. Everybody has their preference I think. Add your ink,..wipe off the excess,...you should have ink left in the "channel/scratch" you have created. That will be your image. Here is a pic before any ink is applied. Repeat the process as necessary to get the look and shading your after. Just my .02. Others have their own way.

[Nessmuck]

Thanks for sharing....wow

[flatsguide]

Do you use a particular point shape or is it just a tapered round point on the graver you use? I have read that some people prepare their horns by applying thin CA glue on the surface the kicking it off with an accelerator then a final sanding or buffing the surface with wax. All this to prevent ink sinking into natural fissures in the horn. Your sketching on the horn shows lovely artistic skill, how do you prevent smudging of the graphite while carving. Map horns look great when executed like yours but river maps are the pinnacle imo.
Thanks Richard

[aaronc]

Thanks for sharing....wow

Yes sir,..thank you.

Do you use a particular point shape or is it just a tapered round point on the graver you use? I have read that some people prepare their horns by applying thin CA glue on the surface the kicking it off with an accelerator then a final sanding or buffing the surface with wax. All this to prevent ink sinking into natural fissures in the horn. Your sketching on the horn shows lovely artistic skill, how do you prevent smudging of the graphite while carving. Map horns look great when executed like yours but river maps are the pinnacle imo.
Thanks Richard

Richard,
                that scribe is double ended and I usually use the longer more narrow tip vs. the shorter wider tip. If you'll note the borders on the larger parts of the river, they are darker. At some point in time I used that shorter wider tip to widen and clean out that channel to accept more ink. Before I start and between inking I coat the horn with Johnsons paste wax. I've heard they were going to quit making that so if not available I'd use whatever the equivalent is. After ink is dry I buff out with fine steel wool until I see what I want. This is not a one and done process for me....I go over whatever I need to as many times as I need. After buffing I recoat with wax...go over again or start sketching again. If you want really defined lines the channel needs to be clean. I've not been able to get that with one pass...it needs to be cleaned out to get excess horn debris removed.....unless that is the look the maker is trying to achieve. I'm not sure how to prevent smudging other than to be careful.

        People have their own style...mine will probably always fall a little bit on the primitive side. I swing for a mix of tones and shades. I don't like everything to look like it got hit with the same hammer if that makes sense. When I see and admire other's engraving I'm attracted to some good design....but the execution is usually delicate in nature. I feel my work in comparison is sometimes "heavy handed". That is the hill to climb for me, trying to achieve depth...usually with only shades of black and grey.

-Aaron

[flatsguide]

Thank you Aaron. I think I understand about the value changes and the line depth and width you’re after…it sure looks like you succeeded in every sense of the word. Thank you for the technique you use.
Merry Christmas
Richard

[aaronc]

Thank you Aaron. I think I understand about the value changes and the line depth and width you’re after…it sure looks like you succeeded in every sense of the word. Thank you for the technique you use.
Merry Christmas
Richard

Yes sir,...same to you.

[Tecumseh]

Beautiful scrimshaw executed well, shows alot of time, skill and patience to achieve that high level of a piece. You should be very proud. Outstanding

[aaronc]

Beautiful scrimshaw executed well, shows alot of time, skill and patience to achieve that high level of a piece. You should be very proud. Outstanding

Glad you liked it,..thanks for looking. -Aaron