Carving a new subject is always a challenge that leads down the learning path that makes the challenge a worthwhile endeavor. The fact of the matter is that every carving project whether a familiar subject or a new subject is always a learning experience both of the subject and of the actual process of the carving technique. A recent commission carving of the subject of a Samurai Shogun Warrior offered the opportunity to learn from the challenge of a new subject.
Block Heads are carved inside a Friendship Cane segment measuring two inches square by three inches tall with a five eighth inch hole drilled down the center of the length of block. Carving is done with knives with curved cutting edges to facilitate the necessary slicing cuts in tight areas.
A fun carving project is to carve a basswood handle of a knife that is the brainchild of Helvie Knives who makes a knife with a blank basswood handle. The question for the carver becomes “what to carve in the handle?” One consideration is to carve a handle that would be comfortable to hold in the carving hand while using the knife for carving as well as the subject matter to choose. Like most carving projects it is best not to rush before having a clear idea as to what to carve. This is to trust the creative process to make the suggestion into the carver’s imagination. During the mental incubation process an idea began to take shape to carve a “Back to Back” interpretation of Santa in two forms. The red suited Santa often called the Coca Cola Santa would be carved on one side and an Old-World Santa on the other side as “Back to Back Santa.” The design would need to be simple so that no appendages would protrude.
A carving of Gandalf has been carved several times, sometimes with a lantern in his hand, sometimes with a crystal ball in his hand an always with his iconic staff of a crooked and twisted shape. This interpretation of Gandalf the Wizard has him holding the lantern as a symbol of bringing the light of wonder. He is wearing a dunce hat with a floppy brim and the tradition long robe. Such a simple attire allows the emphasis to be upon his face, his staff and the lantern to spark the imagination to conjure wizardly feats of wonder.
The Hoosier Hobo was Whittle-Carved using only knives to shape a six-inch-tall by inch and half square block of basswood. A series of photos will show the progressive steps supplemented with verbal descriptions of these progressive steps. Keep in mind that between initial opening cuts with a slicing knife there are more cuts to follow to refine the carved surface into it finished state. As if often said, “One cut is not a cut to end all cuts being rather the beginning cut with more cuts to follow,” so the reader of this blog posting will need to use imagination to read between the lines, fill in the gaps and mentally carve what in-between the stages.
Lone Wolf Redux 2 is an interpretation of an Indian with two feathers in his head dress. He is carved in a three-inch square by ten inches tall block of Butternut. The base is a half inch and the feathers above the head are a half inch tall making the Indian nine inches tall. He is wearing a buckskin shirt, leggings and a breech clouts. The pose of Lone Wolf has him in a pensive mood looking skyward as if reading the signs in the clouds or perhaps a deep in thought look to an elevated horizon. Such a pose gives a sense of movement as opposed to a statuary stance. In his left arm and hand, he is cradling a peace pipe as a symbol of his loyality to his heritage and sacred disposition.
The Civil War Soldier and the Cowpoke are two recent commissioned carving projects that offer an opportunity for a photographic visual tutorial on carving these classic subjects. The Wood Bee Carver is primarily a knife carver who uses this means of showing the process of Whittle-Carving a six-inch-tall figure.
DON MERTZ COLLECTION HELVIE KNIVES SIG SERIES 21 #0001 W/CARVED BLADE COVER (see photo) is the current knife listed on eBay. Since the Wood Bee Carver has retired from teaching and participating in carving shows he no longer carries an inventory of his Helvie Signature Series Knives. He is liquidating his personal collection of #1 and #2 of the Signature Series Knives as they were made by issuing three knives a week for the bidding process. Half way through the liquidation there are approximately 24 more knives to be listed. These knives were designed by the Wood Bee Carver with a curved cutting edge and specially designed shapes to aid in the Whittle-Carving process and made by HELVIE KNIVES. If interested is taking a look, go to eBay and search for “DON MERTZ COLLECTION HELVIE KNIVES…” to follow along the process.