Step 2: Remove the sharp corners on the front and tail. Carve with the grain. If you feel the knife catching in the grain and starting to split the wood, rotate the blank and begin cutting from the opposite direction. Turn the blank often and remove equal amounts of wood from all of the sides.

Step 3: Add the details. Check the body for symmetry as you work. When you are satisfied with the shape, taper the edges of the tail. Draw the gill slit and make a stop cut along the line with a hobby knife. Hold the knife at a 45° angle about 1/8″ (3mm) from the stop cut and carve up to the stop cut to create a channel that represents the gill slit. Make gill slits on both sides of the carving.

Step 4: Attach the screw eye. Carve 1/16″ (2mm) from the tip of the nose to create a flat surface for the screw eye. Find the center of the flat spot and gently twist the point of the knife into the wood to create a starter hole for the screw eye. Thread the screw eye the whole way into the fish’s nose.

Step 5: Basecoat the fish. I use white Liquitex gesso, but use your choice of primer. Draw the color demarcation line. Paint the top half of the fish a color of your choice. Here I used green; see the photo on page 25 for more ideas.

Step 6: Add painted details. Use the photos as a guide to paint the eyes, dots, and stripes. Allow the paint to dry.

Step 7: Finish the fish. Use 150-grit sandpaper to lightly distress the keychain, removing some paint to allow the raw wood to show. Brush on three coats of amber shellac to tone down the bright paint and give the piece an antique look. Apply a coat of Krylon matte finish to tone down the gloss of the shellac. Attach a brass swivel snap and split key ring to the screw eye.