Wild Things: Stub
The Creative Process
![[Lueb with his Brood]](./fotos_jpg/pinegnome1.jpg)
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![[Lueb with his Brood]](./fotos_jpg/pinegnome2.jpg)
![[Lueb with his Brood]](./fotos_jpg/pinegnome3.jpg)
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![[Lueb with his Brood]](./fotos_jpg/pinegnome4.jpg)
From playful bears to majestic birds of prey, Lueb begins the creative process
with his sketch pad. He references each subject for habits and definition from
nature books and magazines. For more difficult pieces he makes a clay model.
Once he has "found the animal in the log", he begins work with a chainsaw to
cut and shape the wood. Lueb then refines the definition of each piece using a
carving disc. Detailing is etched with a rotary tool and chisels. He uses museum
quality glass eyes, and then air brushes the carving with colored stains.
Several applications of quality Spar Urethane preserves and protects the wood.
All of his work is signed and dated.
A Bit About the Trees ...
Most of Lueb's carvings are from Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees. From
the mid 1970s to early 1980s Boulder County experienced substantial tree
mortality from the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB). When a MPB attacks a tree it
carries a bluestain fungus that disrupts the flow of nutrients to the tree,
and kills it. MPB usually attacks trees that are not growing vigorously due
to old age, overcrowding, dwarf mistletoe infections, prolonged periods of
drought, or lack of natural fire disturbance. Bluestain wood gives some of
Lueb's carvings dark streaked tones. He has discovered that wood from
infested MPB trees tends to resist "checking". The tree may die but not the
wood. Cracking or "checking" acts as a reminder that the wood is a living
organism.