Category: Projects

Scrimshaw projects both current and past will be chronicled here

Kraken Blog – Starting the Rigging and Shading

Kraken Blog – Starting the Rigging and Shading



Late evening shot of the scrimshaw with "Squidward's" noggin having been shaded with stipple-dots.
Late evening shot of the scrimshaw with "Squidward's" noggin having been shaded with stipple-dots.

Kraken scrimshaw-beginning rigging and shading the masts
Kraken scrimshaw-beginning rigging and shading the masts

Scrimshawing the details consists of choosing what to add, what to leave out and what to postpone ’til later.  The rigging seemed a good place to start this morning, with the exception of the “rat lines” (rope ladders, per http://phrontistery.info/nautical.html).  With much of the rigging and all the wrapped sails now complete, the shading of the masts pretty well in place, it’s time to start on Squidward.  Please note the difference in the color of the ivory is due to the lighting at the time – I am not “antiquing” the ivory. There’ll be several more pics on flikr, but for now I need to get to the store for more domestic endeavors.

Kraken Blog – Masts are up, Planks are Set

Kraken Blog – Masts are up, Planks are Set

Scrimshaw of the Kraken as of 2012-04-15 Masts and planks completedA little time this morning to work on the Kraken, I am using a line technique on most of the ship, and staying with the stipple technique on “Oscar” – or whatever I decide to call him.  According to some legends the Kraken was either just a giant octopus or a cross between a squid and a crab.  Either way, you’d have to boil a lot of water to cook him.  Photographed here on the remnants of one of my favorite t-shirts (much to my wife’s satisfaction!) in the full sun. Since the garden awaits, I’ll be putting it away for awhile again, and tend to other matters. The scrimshaw artists page has been added and updated, please don’t be shy if you would like to be included here.

Kraken Blog – Getting Ship Shape

Kraken Blog – Getting Ship Shape

Still have to upload the rest of the pics again, but an hour got me further along.  The arms at the stern of the ship will be a challenge when I add detail to them since they are a bit “woggy” though I think that can be rectified.  Sometimes you seem to make great progress in an hour, other times it seems you’ve done so little.  Either way it feels good to get completely away from computers and everything else and focus on something that is so immediate.  Anyone who plays piano feels the difference if they’ve been on a digital piano then feels the direct response playing a piano with a well regulated action.  More pics can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrimshaw/sets/72157629656782109/

Kraken scrimshaw on mammoth ivory with detail callout to the upper left

Kraken Blog – From Start to Ship-Shape

Kraken Blog – From Start to Ship-Shape



Recreating a website has it’s merits, being able to remove outdated information (like the how-to), but it does take time.  Here is a quick gallery of pics from the Kraken project: