Vintage Views are nostalgic views of early carving projects of a carving journey begun around 1975 as a budding hobby rekindling childhood memories of whittling as a playful activity of creative exercises of imagination.  Many of these early projects were done in a casual schedule of spontaneous inspiration in a slow methodical process of learning while doing by shaping a block of wood with a knife. Many have not been seen in public other than at “show and tell” at carving club meetings and reflect early attempts of doing the best one could do at the time with the level of skill and design reflective of growing with experience.

The projects depicted in this gallery represent carving projects that were carved between 1985 and 2000.

The photo at the top is based on two humorous stories. The one toothed caricature above is called “The Inventor of the TOOTH Brush” because if it was invented by anyone else it would have been called a “TEETH Brush.” The second caricature wearing only one shoe says when asked, “Did you loose a shoe?” he said, “Naw, I found one.” These carvings. along with the next section of photos, were out of basswood measuring 4 inches tall and 7/8 inches square.

These Whittle Folk Pokes were carving project subjects used in Carving Classes taught at the War Eagle Seminars, War Eagle. Arkansas using square yard sticks made of basswood as the carving wood stock.

To see the class tutorial handed out to students, click on “Whittle Folk Pokes.”

The Laborer leaning on the shovel taking a pause from his work is inspired by an oil painting and was used as a study model of pose for a larger sculpture in Butternut.

“Whittle Folk” first made their appearance as an article for Chip Chats which can be be viewed by clicking on WHITTLE FOLK.  These three inch tall caricatures were the first carving subjects for classes taught by the Wood Bee Carver.  In the lower photo the Whittle Folk laying down, holding a dog and his feet crossed notice the “design error” with the crossed feet in that the big toes should be on the outside of the feet when they are crossed.  Design errors serve as a negative example of what sometimes can happen which teaches us that we learn by doing  and learn by correcting design errors.

“The Buck Stops Here” a caricature carving of Harry S. Truman [ Basswood – 8 inch tall on 2 inch square base – finished with Deft for natural finish.]

Abraham Lincoln ~  6 inch tall – basswood painted with oil paints on a cherry wood base.

Finally, the one of a kind carvings called “Whittle Folk Gothic” were carved as learning and study projects for the carver’s own enjoyment.