The art of scrimshaw - Mollyjogger’s penknife vII

A quick sketched outline for size 

This is what I had in mind but this side turned out a bit more ‘freeform’

Adding a fish (the fun bit)

The kit comes with carbon paper - use silver side up

Taping the trace over the carbon

A complete fish drawn but I like to ‘hoof it’ a bit, so just transposed a simple outline

This was enough for me to work on, just the body shape

Once the main fish lines were incised, it was easy to add more ink using the cotton buds

The ink is progressively wiped away using the wire wool from the kit

The final fish, complete with fly line and fly

1/2 dram of ink, ink swab and incising tool. As you can see, I deviated from my original design for this side, making things up as I went after all. 

A piece to treasure and none like it in the world!

Okay, the dorsal fin’s too long and carp-like, but it looks great

Further to a previous post where I tried my hand at the ancient mariner’s art of scrimshaw (incising into whale’s teeth/animal bone), for my son Jack, (‘Trapper’ knife), I loved the final result so much I recently made one for myself. This particular model of penknife, a ‘Barlow’ is also from www.mollyjogger.com and made in the States by Bear & Son. The quality is fabulous, heavy in the hand and opens and closes with a satisfyingly springy twang. The knife is a seamless, glassy, pebble-smooth blending of metal components and rivets and naturally sports a real bone handle. Mollyjogger are steeped in huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ history in the Ozark mountains, Arkansas, USA and attention to craft and detail is wholly evident in their very comprehensive scrimshaw kit:

• Steel-point Scribe
• 1/2 Dram India Ink
• Tracing Tool
• Transfer Paper
• Fine Steel Wool
• Ink Applicators
• Specialty Multi-Surface Pencil
• Step by Step Instructions and Sample Graphics

See picture captions for details, but this is as close as you can get to experiencing the whaling sailor’s art first-hand. A more original piece, whether for yourself or an ‘outdoorsy’ friend, you’d be hard-pushed to find. I hear they can ship to the UK for Christmas if ordered by the end of the 1st week of Dec too...

Kent University Philanthropy Map

The paper

‘Scratch’, ‘dip’, or ‘quill’ pen.

I don’t like sketching out in pencil first, I prefer to dive in with ink. Riskier but a more enjoyable and spontaneous/natural line results.

A scant pencil crosshair is enough for me to work out the composition on this trick circle.

Have a Gander were recently commissioned to provide a hand-drawn map for local University of Kent at Canterbury. The map features on the inside cover flap of a book on Philanthropic Gifts to the university over the past 50 years. Work-in-progress ink and watercolour work on ‘The Langton’ 300gsm ‘Grain Fin’ paper.

Colman’s Mustard jar, my favourite

Colman’s Mustard. No manly food should do without it. As they used to say themselves ‘Meat needs mustard’. An iconic design and personal favourite of mine, drawn in scratch pen and acrylic ink with watercolour on 300gsm The Langton’ Grain Fin’ paper. Warhol had his Campbell’s, my muse is mustard. Email me if you’d like to give a similar original as a present headlined with ‘(insert name)’s favourite’, to a loved one - maybe a jar of their favourite marmalade, a bottle of beer or wine, or even a pair of Converse, anything goes. petergander@gmail.com

Hand-drawn maps - Personalised Provence Map

Personalised hand-drawn map  © Peter Gander

It’s been a year of maps, this one’s a very personal one commissioned for a couple who were celebrating their joint 50th birthdays. It shows their favourite haunts in the Provence region of their holiday home in France. Scratch pen and ink and watercolour on The Langton 300gs, Grain Fin paper.