HELVIE KNIVES announces the introduction of two more knives in the WOOD BEE CARVER Signature Series.  Each knife is a continuation of the basic design and concept for a carving knife that is used in a “slice and roll” action.  The cutting edge is curved in a quarter moon shape to allow for a slicing action in both the push and pull stroke.  The back edge mirrors the cutting edge with a scimitar blade shape to allow for greater access in tight areas while carving. Read the rest of this entry »

A recent commission to carve two figures representative of Phil Robertson dressed in camouflage resulted in these two carvings. The design of the camouflage fatigues was created by wood burning the darker designs on the bare basswood followed by the painting process of a tan color to simulate desert camouflage.

The caricature likeness of the Duck Dynasty character was made possible by incorporating certain characteristics identified with the character.  A duck call in one hand, a shot gun in the other hand, the camouflage head band and the signature beard and mustache outfits this carving into a reasonable likeness of the character.

A study of the photographs will reveal that each carving while similar yet each is unique in its own interpretation of the same subject.  Most carvings are interpretations rather than a mirror image of the original.  It is the interpretation mixed with imagination of the eye and mind that make each carving come alive. (click on each photo to enlarge) Read the rest of this entry »

Hello Kitty and Train were gifts carved for each grandchild and the Snowmen were carved for my wife Frances.  She gave me a carving of an Old Man that was carved by good friend Bob Biermann and Rich Smithson of Helvie Knives was commissioned to create the Anniversary Knife. (Click on each photo to enlarge) Read the rest of this entry »

 Gene Messer is a carving friend to many wood carvers who have followed his tutorials on YouTube, Woodcarving Illustrated Forum and Face book.  http://www.youtube.com/user/whittler0507

He has given me permission to quote his latest and sincerest encouragement and instruction for those who aspire to carve better. His simple words carry a heavy message well worth reading often.  So in Gene’s own words: Read the rest of this entry »

The motto of the WOOD BEE CARVER  “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood,” was coined in the mid 1970’s to imply that wood carvers are always learning.  Carving is learned primarily by carving with the experience that the more one carves the better one carves.  Simply thinking about carving, reading carving magazines, carving books or watching instructional videos while day dreaming about carving is not the same as actually using a cutting tool to shape a piece of wood.  It is that familiar experience of using the cutting tool slicing through the wood in the carving process that becomes the best learning experience.

Learning to carve is an ongoing process that grows with each time one carves.  The growth in learning by doing is enhanced the more often one carves.  One who carves every day will grow in learning more than carving only once a week or once a month or the next carving seminar.  If one is not familiar with the various cuts the cutting tool can do in shaping a block on wood, then one struggles with making any cuts.  That struggle is handcuffed by being afraid of making a wrong cut because one has not yet learned the various cuts that can be made.  That struggle becomes more difficult from the lack of practice of shaping the wood by impeding the ability to see or imagine a cut before it is made.  Looking and studying a completed carving either as a model go by or a photo of a carving without imaging how the cuts were made to shape the carving will confuse the occasional carver.  Practice, practice, practice is only advised because it works and if one practices doing nothing one gets pretty good at doing nothing.  On the other hand, if one carves more, one learns and becomes a better carver in that kind of practice. Read the rest of this entry »