WoodBeeCarver

A dentist in Israel commissioned the carving of this caricature scene of a dentist and his patient.  It appears that there is a lingering fear of going to the dentist who will extract fear out of the patient long before any teeth are extracted.  Approaching this lingering fear with a bit of humor is a way to lighten any patients apprehension while poking fun at the dentist.  Thus when a dentist commissions such a carving it is the dentist who has the sense of humor by poking fun at the dental profession.

The eight photographs above are to be studied to give an overall view of the caricature scene from all angles.  It shows a dentist reading a book on how to pull teeth while he is in the process of pulling still another tooth to go along with all the other mistakenly pulled teeth in the tray on the patient’s chest.  The patient is strapped to the chair while his eyes are wide-eyed with fear while he awaits yet another extraction of a tooth.  The dentist is very intent, so much so that his has his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth in deep concentration while he reads the dental book and clamps the pliers around another tooth. 

The process began with the inquiry from the dentist with his basic concept for a dentist and patient scene.  The carver-artist allowed the concept to incubate in imagination and drew a cartoon image to have a black and white image as a starting point.  Within the creative process of imagination at work the concept evolves throughout the carving process often to look a little different than the initial idea.

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The cartoon served as a point of reference and discussion in which one detail was changed with the pliers pulling a tooth rather than pinching the nose.  All other aspects of the overall design remained basically the same except for a few minor changes during the carving process.  Every carving is a journey that may have a change of scenery or a detour that leads to the final destination in the final scene.  The paper cartoon served as a blueprint during the carving process.

These series of photographs are to study the progression of the carving process from a block of basswood seven and a half inches tall, six inches wide and four and a half inches deep.  Following the blueprint of the cartoon drawing the block of basswood is opened up by carving the basic forms of each part of the caricature scene.

  Everything is carved to basic form before any detail carving takes place. Traditional carving tools were used to carve this caricature scene.   Carving everything (except the syringe needle and dental tools in the pockets of the dentist’s jacket)  out of one block of wood is a challenge but a rewarding challenge.  The challenge is helped by following the Rule of Three for facial and body proportions so that everything in the scene looks about correct.

The final series of photographs will be close up views of the finished and painted dentist with his tongue protruding out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrates in reading his how to pull teeth book.

The last public viewing of this caricature dentist scene will be at the Artistry in Wood Show in Dayton, Ohio on November 14 and 15, 2009. 

John Niggemeyer of Heath, Ohio was presented the CCA Merit Award by CCA Members Bruce Henn and Don Mertz at the Cincinnati Woodcarving Show, October 10 and 11, 2009.  John’s wife Sara offers a congratulary smile as John receives this very special honor.

John is a very versatile carver with many years experience who excells is whatever  carving  genre he attempts.  The photographs that follow are of some of his caricature carvings that were displayed at the Cincinnnati Show.

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John and Sara are standing behind their carving display table at the Cincinnati Woodcarving Show, 2009.  CONGRATULATIONS! and well deserved.

Bart Wilson of Guyton, Georgia recently honored me with a gift of three of his caricature carvings during the Dollywood Woodcarving Showcase, 2009.  This was our first face to face meeting as we had only communicated with each other through the Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board. 

Bart has a unique carving gift and a creative eye for caricature carving, so much so, that I want to show photographs of his carvings so more people can be inspired by his work.  He is a good example of a carver who is not afraid to experiment to develop one’s own carving style.  So take a look and be encouraged to develop your own style under the WOOD BEE CARVER’S philosophy, “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood.”

Study each of the four views of these three caricature carvings to observe the style and movement of each one. The next series of photographs are of other carvings done by Bart that are just as eye catching and each has a story to tell.

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The next photograph of a caricature scene tells a thought provoking story that is provocative rather than humorous.

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This caricature has a lot of character and if you listen closely he will tell you a tall tale about the person who carved him into being.  He will tell you that Bart Wilson is a level headed, sensitive, intelligent, studious and serious thinker who would never do anything out of the ordinary.  Remember it’s a tall tale.  Actually, Bart is a character much like the next photograph, a true to life likeness of what Bart is really like.

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