MINIATURE Carvings are normally under two inches tall and for competition purposes must fit within a two inch cube including the base.  The three Miniatures in the photograph at the left begin on the left with I. B. Whittled (two inch tall) in center is Jughead (one and three eighths of inch tall) and Santa head on golf tee (two inches tall).  Each were carved using only the tip end of a knife blade.

The very tip end of any blade that comes to a quick point is the detail blade portion of the entire blade as only a fraction of the blade is doing the carving.  The next series of photographs show several Miniatures and the knife that carved the miniature figure using only the tip end of the blade.

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In the photographic journey that follows the first series are of Alabama Charlie that shows eight panoramic views of a miniature figure an inch and three quarters tall.

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Jughead will be featured next being an example of a painted miniature figure to compare with the other miniatures  that have received only a stain of raw sienna artist oil paint mixed with boiled linseed oil.  Following Jughead will be Spud Jimmy, Leroy Obert and finally I. B. Whittled.

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Miniature figures are more tedious than difficult to carve requiring fine slicing cuts with the tip end of the carving knife blade.  A miniature is actually easier to carve than a larger figure in that there are less cuts to get to the final result.  The tedious part is learning to make each cut remove the proper amount of wood but then each cut gets the carver to  the detail portion of the carving sooner although there is less margin for error.  Carving miniatures can be tedious, challenging and fun all at the same time.  Like so many carving projects, one is not sufficient so there is the push to carve another and then another and then another.

The only magnification used is reading glasses worn on top of bifocal glasses for this old carver.  Knife blades need to be extremely sharp with  a thin bevel to slice through  each cut with ease. Slicing cuts are a must and no prying of loose chips.  Re-slice for a clean cut.

Miniature carving makes each cut count while counting the fun of carving a miniature version of the carver’s imagination.

I. B. WHITTLED made a little trip to the Blackhawk Woodcarvers show in Illinois and received a first place ribbon the the Miniature Challenge Class  (28 entries) and the Judges Choices First  Runner Up of all entries.  For a little man he stands pretty tall with the honor bestoyed.

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This photograph shows some very early miniatures.

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Lo Chin “The Ancient One” received a very special honor at the Sauder Village Woodcarving Show October 30, 2010 as Second Best of Show and also received Judge Adina Denton Huchins Speciality Award.

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