A couple years ago, I experimented for the first time with carving a bird from the crotch of a tree. I carved a little bird and it worked out, even though the grain was a bear to deal with and there was a lot of movement as it dried. 

A crotch and a crook are different. A crook is a crooked area of a branch, often the area across the pith from a crotch, but sometimes just out in the middle of a branch. A crotch is the section between two branches, the middle of the Y. It features interlocked dense fibers.

A few days ago, I decided to give it another go with a cherry crotch, and I snapped more progress photos this time. In the shot above, I’ve split off the outer sides along the pith. This will be a long-necked bird. A waterfowlish form.

Here’s a shot of the freshly-planed bottom. Notice that the wood beyond the pith on both sides of the Y is gone. 

Shaved down and cleaned up a bit. Tail left, head right.

Once the top of the body is shaped, the edge of the hollow can be sketched on.

After just a little work with a gouge and mallet, lots of digging with a hook knife in the deep hollow. Tight quarters.

Another grip.

Just a little axe work to begin shaping the exterior. Easy does it, because the crotch grain is unpredictable and can split out in unexpected ways.

Then onto the bowl horse with a drawknife. 

Thinning down the back of the tail here to the desired curve. The more I can remove in the green stage, the better. It’s easier to carve now, and it will dry more evenly.

Undercutting the wings with a v-tool and mallet.

The grain in the central area of the crotch is particularly wild and dense. I used a very course rasp to shape that area.

There it was when I set it aside to dry a few days ago. It has been wrapped in a piece of old blanket to slow the drying a bit. So far, so good, but who knows. If all goes well, it should be ready for the next stages in a few weeks or less. I’ve left extra length to allow for the possibility of any end checks. 

And you should smell the fresh cherry wood. What a joy it is to carve. Here’s wishing you all a joyful, peaceful, new year. 

My 2024 Dickinsons Reach celendar arrived in the mail just in time.