WoodBeeCarver

 TURKEY/SANTA NOVELTY  carvings say “Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas” at the same time as each has a turkey carved on one side and on the back side a Santa is carved using the outline of a turkey turned sideways.  The original pattern and idea came by way of carver Glenn Stewart of Hawesville, Kentucky.

In the photo are four carvings showing one side of carvings that have a turkey carved on one side and a Santa carved on the reverse side.  They are displayed in such a way for the viewer to visualize what can be carved on a two sided Turkey/Santa novelty carving.  These were carved out of a 3/8 of an inch by 2 and 1/2 inch square piece of basswood and carved in a whittling style.

 Turkey/Santa novelties are carved free hand so no two look exactly alike making for a fun carving project during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Glenn and Judy Stewart are pictured in the photograph at the left which was taken at the Miami  Valley Woodcarving Show, Middletown, Ohio.  Pictured on their display table are examples of the style and kind of carvings Glenn carves.  He does very fine and precise carving in miniature as well are larger pieces and is also a painter of scenic paintings.  He gave me the pattern for the Turkey/Santa about ten years ago and his carving display always inspires me.  He is a good friend who is also an accomplished carver.

The photographs above are a few examples of Glenn Stewart’s carvings and give even a better picture of how the woodcarving family grows in friendship and admiration of fellow carvers who give so much of who they are through their carvings.  Every time I carve a Turkey/Santa I am reminded again of the friendship that binds wood carvers together.  So, “Thank You, Glenn” for carving a place in the hearts of fellow woodcarvers

Pictured to the left are the eight students who survived a one day class in Whittle Folk Art on November 22, 2008.  The class was held in the Woodcraft Store in Centerville, Ohio on the subject of a Santa Egg carved out of a basswood hen egg.  Class participants included two youth, Kelli Becknell and Will Osbourne.  Other participants were Betty Warwick, (front row) and Ken Oswald, Gil Wendt, Mark Osbourne, Barry Pennington and Don Potter (back row).  The students learned the basics of opening up an egg to carve the form of a Santa using only a knife.  Other instruction covered the basic proportions of the face and lay out design.  Even though the class was intense, every student survived the entire day and vowed to continue carving.  New friends were made and Kelli and Will did excellent carving for being new to the experience.

These photographs are of the Go-By’s used for instructional purposes.

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No See-ums were created by Don Worley of New Carlisle, Ohio in early 2008.  He has taught several classes on these fun caricature carvings as well as numerous individual carvers.  Don has been active in the Dayton Carvers Guild of Ohio and has been co-chairman many years for the annual Artistry in Wood.  He is my good friend and a friend to carvers near and far.

Don Worley is pictured here standing behind his table display at the 2006 Dayton Artistry in Wood Show.  His table is laden with caricatures carved on the corner of bass wood blocks.  A few of his other caricature carvings can be seen to the side of the main display.  In an earlier year Don had carved all the characters of the Beetle Bailey cartoon strip.  Most recently he had written an article for Woodcarving Illustrated Issue 43, Summer 2008, (page 10) tips and techniques entitled “Cutting triangular blanks.”  He developed a jig to cut on a band saw triangular blanks for carving Mark Gargac’s Olde World Santa (WCI Holiday 2007, issue 41.

Armed with these triangular blanks and a caricature creativity it was natural for Don to originate the No See-ums using the triangular blanks as the foundation for carving caricature faces without any eyes.  This clever idea was admired by other carvers who asked Don to teach how to do these simple and yet eye appealing caricature faces.  Any carver who tries one becomes addicted to doing several since they are simple to do and simply fun to do.

Triangular blanks are cut from one and a half inch  or two inch square blocks of basswood at a forty five degree angle and then cut into lengths between two and three inches long.    The beginning cut for the original No See-um with eyes hidden is to cut the nose approximately in the center of the blank using a knife or a deep gouge equal to about half the size of the nose one wants to carve.  From this central point the rest of the face with hat can be drawn with pencil and then carve following the guidelines to release the face giving it character.  Once started,  No See-ums seem to create themselves as each new carving takes on a personality of their own.  The best way to experience this phenomenon is to try your hand at carving some No See-ums.

Don Worley taught me a few of the basics for carving No See-ums and here are examples of my interpretation of these fun little caricatures.  They lend themselves to inspiring one’s imagination and with each new creation there is that inner tranquility of “Woodcarving is more the journey than the destination.”  The “Journey” continues with each new possibility.  Thanks to Don Worley for introducing the carving world to No See-ums.  Don can be reached by email at: worleyd429@att.net.