These two Scottish Golfers wearing kilts were carved as commission pieces. One was a gift to a friend and the other was for the commissioner. Each was carved out of basswood six inches tall by one and three quarter of an inch square using traditional carving tools. The pose of each one is a challenge to carve legs crossed while leaning on a golf club, head turned slightly and other hand holding a pipe. The stripes to form the plaid effect were drawn first with a pencil to follow the contour and folds of the kilt and then wood burned. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for September, 2008
30
Sep
PINCIL NOGGINS
PENCIL NOGGINS are carved faces on wooden pencils using slicing cuts with the tip end of a sharp knife. Wooden pencils are normally made out of Western Cedar which tends to crumble when the knife blade is forced into the wood. Thus it is necessary to make every cut a slicing cut. Think of a slicing cut as when one slices bread off a loaf. The cutting edge of a sharp knife is made up of little teeth very similar to the teeth on a hand saw. A saw does its work when it is sliced through the wood. The most efficient cut with a knife is a slicing cut whereby the cutting edge is moving through the wood in a slicing action. Read the rest of this entry »
29
Sep
SANTA GOES GREEN
Santa is above everyone else in his concern about global warming as his North Pole home and gift making factory is in jeopardy. Thus, Santa is going “Green” to be environmentally correct and to let the rest of us become aware that we are to be caretakers and responsible managers of the good green earth and blue sky of the atmosphere. Santa teaching us about loving one another and giving gifts of happiness both of which can not be without taking care of the environment in our little corner of the world. In this series of carved jewelry pins, Santa is wearing a Green cap to remind us to be “evergreen” ourselves. Read the rest of this entry »
16
Sep
THOUGHT FOR FOOD
“THOUGHT FOR FOOD” is a caricature carving of an unemployed professor using a play on words by reversing a familiar saying, “Food for Thought.” This carving depicts a “long in the face” professor who is out of work sitting on philosophy books and surrounded by philosophy books which contain the “Thought” that has shaped critical thinking through out the ages. Read the rest of this entry »
9
Sep
A BIRDIE
“A BIRDIE” is a play on a golfing term for shooting one under par. However, if one is unfamiliar with golf, the term “a birdie” is confusing in that there is no actual “bird” involved in golf unless the golfer accidentally hits a flying bird with a golf ball. The humor depicted in this carving is the exaggeration of a birdie hatching out of a golf ball. Read the rest of this entry »
9
Sep
PAPA SMURF
The cartoon character Papa Smurf was carved for Wayne Shinlever, a good wood carving friend from Knoxville, Tennessee. Before he retired as Deputy Sheriff his nickname “PAPA SMURF” was given to him. This particular carving is wearing a star to indicate the Deputy Sheriff motif. Papa Smurf stands four inches tall and is two inches wide. The coloring is done with artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil.
