Half Pint Whittle Carvings and three inch tall figures whittle carved using only knives to shape and detail the carving project.  They are called “Half Pints” because they use the half inch equals a foot scale which is “half” of the inch scale that equals a foot. A six inch tall carved figure would represent a six foot tall figure.

A Half Pint figure begins as a three inch by inch square basswood block that is divided proportionally using the concept of the Rule of Three for proportional divisions.  The visualize a figure within a block of wood proportionally is to use “Baseball Measurement” which means “in the ballpark” of visual estimation that “looks about correct” proportionally. Proportions divided into thirds is the least and yet effective way to fit a mental image into the proposed area by “eye balling” that area without precise measuring tool. Being able to see a figure “proportionally” before it is carved becomes the same method to study a completed work of art with the “eye ball” test of appearing to “look about correct” with actually measuring with measuring tools.  Measure with “in the ballpark” eye test of proportional symmetry.

For over thirty years the Wood Bee Carver has used and taught the concept of the Rule of Three for Facial Proportions and Body Proportion in the carving of the human figure.  These Rule of Threes apply to any size of a carving project being it a miniature to life size the three proportions apply.  In the case of the Half Pint of a three inch tall by inch square block of basswood the head portion is carved to basic form first (only slightly larger at first) and then the area below the head down to the top of an eight inch base notched in the bottom of the block is divided into thirds in which the body parts are drawn as guidelines. [the three divisions are determined by visual determination of proportions of looking about correct.] As a general rule, carving for caricatures, the head covering and head on small figures will be a little larger for appearance sake than being accurate proportionally with the body proportions.  Appearance wise, the head and face are a little larger as the “bullseye” of the carving that the viewer sees first and then the body tells the rest of the story the entire carving is telling.

In studying the gallery of each Half Pint below note that the two Mountain Men were an interpretation of nine inch tall original carvings.  The Farmer Gothic couple are interpretations of six inch tall original carving.  The two Pirates are interpretations of six inch tall original carvings.  All of which illustrate that a three inch tall Half Pint can interpret a larger size carving.

[Click on photos to enlarge]

The carving process sequence it is to carve the basic form first beginning with the  head covering and head, the shaping up the body parts to basic form and then finally shape up the various areas of the body parts and facial features with detail carvings.  “Form follows function and detail follow the form.” The finish on Half Pints is a monochrome color of artist oil paint Raw Sienna mixed with boiled linseed oil followed with an application of Deft, a brushing lacquer.