By Gary Gunn
Picture 1-My Mom at her 100th birthday party on July 23,2000. This is the
picture Gary Gunn used to carve on an emu egg
Picture 2- 1- Carving my mother's picture on an emu egg by Gary Gunn.
This is the first step , egg is sanded where subject goes with 320grit then
600grit wet and dry sandpaper the subject is then glued into place with EZ
transfer. I will next score egg through print.
Picture 3- 2- This is first cut done with dental tool and 33 1/2 carbide.
I stayed in light areas.
Picture 4- 3- I have torn away pattern and cut background with dremel and
1/8 inch rad cutter in carbide . The background helps present subject or
project it forward and when polished it really helps. That is the hardest
part of the whole carving there is much elbow grease applied , I file area
first after carving off top layer. then sand with 320 wet and dry sandpaper
followed by 600 grit paper . After that , I polish area with white polishing
compound , followed with a scratch remover like mirror glaze.
after that I have to thoroughly wash egg to get rid of splashed polish and
sand water, only then will I carve the rest of the face.
Picture 5- 4- Here is egg polished now all the prep is done , it is now
time to do the fun part tomorrow. this will be a difficult egg to complete
as photographer doesn't use lighting shadow or contrast , this is an inside
photo and the hardest for me to work there is. I have much better luck with
old photos because the old photos were taken by professionals and they knew
the value of good lighting . But this happens to me all the time, I almost
asked you for a different photo to work with but I have started and we will
see what we get.
Picture 6- 5- All work done so far is done with dental drill and diamond
football smallest available, the rest is fine tuning done with a small
cherry knife and sand paper.
Picture 7- 6- Here is the finished egg on a pickled oak stand. Gary also
makes all his turned wooden egg stands.