Rich Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES did me a great favor by making the cherry plaque and stand for the CCA Best of Show Trophy and wood burning the CCA Logo and lettering on the plaque as a base for the Hobo carved to complete the trophy. So for his generosity I carved for him the Helvie Pirate to be added to his carving collection. The knives used to carve the pirate were Signature Series #10 HORNET BEE, # 13 BUMBLE BEE and # 6-2 MINI MERTZ II as pictured in the first photograph.  The continuing photographs are a visual study of the characteristics of what makes a carved figure into a pirate. (click on each photo to enlarge.)

Variations of the pirate theme have been carved before but each carving project is always a new learning experience even if carving a familiar subject. The creative sub consciousness of the carver will guide the carver in making subtle changes and enhancements to make even the same subject take on a personality of its own. The fun part of the journey of woodcarving is to experience a fresh approach of the creative process that makes slight changes in the carving process whereby the carver is carving a tried and true subject again as if for the very first time. The learning goes on and continues with each new carving so when the next pirate is carved the process will repeat itself into yet another new carving of an old friend.

The pirate is six inches tall on an inch and half base and is finished with artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil whose mixture becomes a stain to color the various parts of the pirate.