Florida Manatee - Intarsia

[FrankEV]

As a Florida resident I felt it would be appropriate to make an Intarsia piece of our well-known waterway residents, the Florida Manatee (Florida’s State Marine Mannal) that are often affectionally called Sea Cows.  I developed the pattern for a 12”x 16” panel from a free Coloring Book page.   I chose to add a 3/4” wide rail frame with mitered corners, fixed to the panel for an overall 13 1/2” x 17 1/2” size. Wood Used: Aspen, Blue Pine, Black Limba, Poplar, Wenge, and Ebonized Walnut for the Frame. The piece is protected with multiple coats of Clear Semi-gloss Lacquer.  The color of both the Aspen representing the Sea water and the blue Pine used for the Manatee were enhanced with dyes.  

Comments and critiques are always welcome.

I will post the pattern in Pattern Exchange

[barb.j.enders]

Good to see you back at the saw.  Looks great Frank.

[daveww1]

very nice job

[Scrappile]

Very nice picture.

[rjweb]

Frank, another excellent piece, RJ

[preprius]

Coloring book for inspiration. i will add that to my activity for new ideas.

Very good execution. Is wenge is dark lines or just nose and eyes? Please elaborate on wenge cutting experience.

 

Edited May 25 by preprius

[FrankEV]

6 hours ago, preprius said:

Is wenge is dark lines or just nose and eyes? 

Wenge is just Eyes and nose. Quite hard but cuts fairly well. Doesnt really look black until a finish is applied.

The dark lines in the manatee is just the edges of the individual pieces being shaped for deffinition.  The Manatee is all just one color, but the photo lights create the darkening of the joints.  Much more uniform in real life.