The photo above shows a three inch tall Troll Brother in between the two proto type knives being tested with the BUSY BEE on the left and the BUZZ BEE on the right.  The WOOD BEE CARVER has been a serious knife carver for over forty years during which time he experimented with knife blade designs to aid in his carving projects.  Very early in this journey it became very evident that the cutting edge of the knife blade is most efficient as it is used in the slicing action as in slicing a tomato, bread or baloney. Through trial and error, it was discovered that a curved cutting edge created the most efficient slicing action when compared with the straight cutting edge in the common carving knife. In order to do slicing cuts with a straight cutting edge blade it is necessary to skew the angle of the straight edge to enhance the slicing action.  A curved cutting edge, by its design, is already skewed as the cutting edge follows the arch of the curve of the blade.  Thus, all the knives designed by the WOOD BEE CARVER are designed to create the easiest slicing action.  With the designed blades that have a straight cutting edge, the angle of the straight edge angles back towards the handle creating a reverse skew angle so that as the blade is pushed or pulled through the wood a slicing action is produced.  With the curved cutting edge blade designs the curvature of the cutting edge is a series of skewed cutting edges along the curvature resulting in a slicing action as it is pushed or pulled through the wood. Read the rest of this entry »

Whittle Doodles are doodling with a knife in a block of wood to carve a variety of subjects and themes as a demonstration of carvings done using only a knife.  Whimsical in nature and yet a way to illustrate the art and practice of carving in a small and restricted area.  This Whittle Doodle was carved using two experimental knives whose design is being tested.  The basswood block measures two-inch square by three inches tall. Artist oil paint color raw sienna was mixed with boiled linseed oil for the colored stain which was followed with a coat of Deft brushing lacquer. Read the rest of this entry »

WHITTLE DWARFS are whimsical carvings in a one inch square by inch and half tall basswood block.  Dwarfs are carved with two feet sticking out underneath the chin of the large head and eyes are covered with the bill or brim of the hat.  Each one is a little different from any other of similar pose.  Using only a knife to shape each dwarf allows for the texture of the whittled facets to give color to each carving while Howard Feed-n-Wax provides the protective finish. Whittling has always been viewed as a relaxing style of carving and is a fun way to relax.  As my good whittling friend Billy Stephens said in an original saying, “There is never a dull moment with a sharp knife and a piece of wood,” Whittle Dwarfs are a fun way to whittle away time in a care free manner.

Troll Brothers are three-inch-tall caricatures whose homely features lend themselves to experiment with facial features.  Each begins as a three inch by inch and half square block of basswood and are carved into shape using two experimental proto type knives. Read the rest of this entry »

Carving eyes is always a challenge that gives the carver the opportunity to experiment and practice in order to find a method that will work for the carver.  The WOOD BEE CARVER is primarily a knife carver who carves eyes using a combination of three cut triangular cuts, notch cuts and delicate slicing cuts.  Carving eyes underneath carved glasses presents another step in the challenge of eye carving and yet the same basic method works the same.  The photo above shows two faces, one with the form of glasses with a blank flat plane and the second with eyes carved through the frame of the glasses. The left face with the flat plane glasses illustrates the carving of the basic form of the glasses fitted on the face. The right face with the eyes carved inside and behind the frame of the glasses illustrates the end result. Read the rest of this entry »

The Beatles were carved as a commission for the HELVIE COLLECTION using a variety of the Wood Bee Carver Signature Series knives made by HELVIE KNIVES. Knives used included the three SIDE KICK knives #’s 25, 26, 27; the Bumble Bee # 13 and the Viper Bee #22 as depicted in the photo below. Read the rest of this entry »