Scrimshaw Powder Horn - "The Scrimshander"

I was given the honor of creating a scrimshaw powder horn for a well known Scrimshander, Mr Glenn Swanson. 

For me, this was a terrifying task. How do you present a piece of work to a true master of the craft?!! 

Luckily for me, Mr Swanson, a true gentleman as always, was so very gracious about it. 

We presented it to him at the 2012 Big Muddy River Rendezvous in Winona, Minnesota. 

The piece here that I recently worked on is entitled "The Scrimshander".

If you know Glenn's work then you know that on many of his pieces he will place a mouse.  Many Rendezvous people and powder horn collectors and scrimshaw collectors enjoying looking to see if they can find that trademark mouse.  So, on one side, I created a mouse for Glenn.

If you follow the mouse down to it's paw, you will find the mouse is holding something.  Keep turning it, and you realize that the mouse is guiding the arm of the scrimshander.

The scrimshander is a portrait of Glenn Swanson working hard on another powder horn.  Thus, this piece is entitled "The Scrimshander".

I am not sure what I enjoyed more, creating this piece or the wonderful smile I got from Glenn when he first saw it.  I will probably never truly know if he thought it was all that well done, but I think it was the thought of the gift.  His praises, his encouragements to continue the craft and his wonderful smile will stay with me forever.

Someday, some day way down the road, I do hope to come close to the talent and creativity of Mr Glenn Swanson.  A true scrimshander, a true artist.  My teacher, my mentor. 

Thank you for the honor! 

All my scrimshaw is hand done making them one of a kind.

Gifted

Email me with any inquiries:
directzee@hotmail.com

Pencil Drawing from Big Muddy River Rendezvous

While camping out at the Big Muddy River Rendezvous in Winona Minnesota (October 2007) I hid out in our canvas tent, grabbed paper and pencil and started scribbling away.


I have been finding a quiet little corner to scribble and scratch on paper for as long as I can remember. My favorite subject has always been our outdoor friends.

Even back in high school and just after, I always found them so much fun to draw.

This hound dog was drawn back in high school....I know, back during the dinosaur era.

"Friends" were drawn back in 1979...WOW! Ancient history!

My son is pushing me to pick it up again....thus, the first drawing at the top of the page, "Fox" was created. Though sold at an auction, it holds a special place in my heart as one of the first pieces I have drawn in many, many years.

I know that these drawings are very old, but throughout the years, not doing much of anything for so many years, most of my work has been given away or sold. Now, with the ability to scan my work, or take photos, I can at least share it with some friends and, thanks to the kids pushing, I think I just might start trying to work at it again. Not because its any good, but because I have so much fun with it.