“scaredy cat” is a challenging cat and pumpkin ice sculpture design that I created years ago.
scaredy cat: a cat and pumpkin ice sculpture design
updated 6/5/23 after its addition to iss. The initial paragraphs (through the old comments) are essentially unchanged from the original post, in order to preserve the context for the old comments.
This is a Halloween themed design that I’ve carved in the past. The cat’s head is challenging, particularly because it faces the viewer instead of showing a profile. Also, the design includes a strut that will protect the tail during transport. It can be easily removed after set up.
The following comments were on the original blog entry. After some technical difficulties, the blog had to be reconstructed, and this was the only way to keep the original comments.
2 Comments
Mark
youdo realize that the base of the tail is only an inch and a half wide. Do you ever carve these designs to see if they actually work before posting them?
Thursday, November 22, 2007 – 10:37 PM
Dawson
Mark,
Yes, in almost every case, I’ve carved the designs that I post. If I haven’t carved a design (like the Bat design), then I base it on other successful designs (like the Swooping owl and Bat, moon, pumpkin designs). When I have a photo of the carving available, then l try to include it. I have carved the Scaredy cat design and it worked well. I calculated the width of the tail’s base, and it’s a little wider than you wrote, about an inch and three quarters. However, it’s still thin and that’s why I suggested using the strut to make sure that it makes it to the set up. (the strut is even thinner; less than an inch)
Also, there’s nothing keeping you from making the base of the tail a little thicker front to back. The silhouette of the carving is the most important aspect and ice sculptures are often carved with the depth somewhat out of proportion. This would provide the extra ice that you’re looking for to support the tail while it melts during the event. In addition, the end of the tail will actually melt a little faster than the base of the tail, because it’s somewhat isolated from the rest of the sculpture. So the end of the tail will get lighter and need a little less support as time goes on.
Finally, it’s important to carve a sculpture that meets the needs of your event. If you don’t think part of a sculpture will hold up long enough, then you can modify the design or choose another more suitable design. I hope I’ve covered the issues you brought up but if you’d like to continue the discussion, you may comment or email me. Thanks for taking the time to add a comment.
Sunday, November 25, 2007 – 09:34 PM
re the original post: about designs & comments
Ok, so we know that Mark was definitely underwhelmed with this design. And that’s fine! Not every design is going to work for everybody and even I don’t like all the designs that I’ve posted here, especially when they’re a few years old.
I welcome your comments, critical or not. But if you’re going to comment, at least pretend you’re paying attention. Mark asks if I’ve carved this piece after I literally said that I’ve carved it before in the first sentence of the original post 🤷♂️
Mark is correct that the tail is thin, but if you’ve sculpted ice a bit before, you know that ice sculptures aren’t usually exactly in proportion because you’re making a sculpture that’s probably going to melt. So the tail should be thicker front to back. Same for the cat’s legs. And if you’re worried about it surviving the event, either change the design, pick a different one, or come up with your own design. It’s not hard.
Finally, I used to stick pretty rigidly to the part in my comment above where I sculpted something before I posted it. That is changing. Over time, you will likely find many more designs here that I’ve never sculpted before. I don’t have any qualms about that; I’ve designed a LOT of ice sculptures and I feel like I’m pretty good at it. I’ll be clear about it in the posts though, and if you sculpt it and get a pic for me to post, I’ll add it to the post along with a link to your website, which should boost your site a bit!
this cat and pumpkin ice sculpture might more accurately be called a cat and jack-o-lantern ice sculpture
different design approaches
The easiest change to make is to change the pumpkin’s expression. He seems amused in this case; I’d be frantic if a cat’s claws were in my scalp!
how would it work on a CNC machine?
I won’t be sculpting this on a CNC any time soon unless I make a façade version. It requires a thick block, particularly for the pumpkin.
Also, I don’t sculpt this particular design very often and CNC designs are the most worthwhile when they’re sculptures that you make repeatedly. So for a sculpture that you MIGHT sculpt again, it’s a little riskier to put in the time to program it. It might be better in the long run to just sculpt it by hand and get it out the door.
for more info and some guidelines
If you have any questions about my cat and pumpkin ice sculpture design, email me or comment below. (It might not let you though.) If you would like to use this ice sculpture design or any other design on this site, please check the design usage guidelines. The design collection page lists designs on the site.
You might also find photos and info from this entry on the ice sculpting secrets facebook page and you can comment there as well as below. Thanks!
