Hillsboro Hobo was carved out of a two inch square by six inch tall block of basswood using a Bud Murray Knife # 529.  Typical motifs characteristic of the mental picture of a hobo are depicted in this carving.  “Clothes make the man” or in this case “make the hobo” with torn elbow of jacket, torn shoulder seams and torn knee of trousers.  Patches at the elbow, knee and seat of the pants along with a disheveled shirttail plus the toes coming out of his shoes all add up to the appearance of a hobo.  The traditional bindle bag tied around a walking staff complete the attire of a hobo.

The photographic journey that follows presents several views of the completed and painted hobo.  The last four photographs show the beginning stages of carving a hobo with guidelines drawn to show where the hobo is inside the block of basswood along with the completed carved and painted hobo.  Notice that the hat and head have been carved to basic form which allows for the remaining portion of the block to be divided by the Rule of Three of Body Proportions  (shoulder to waist; waist to mid knees; mid knees to bottom of feet).  Within these proportional divisions the arms, legs, coat tail and shoes can be drawn to coincide with the posture and stance of the hobo figure.

Notch cuts have been made at various landmarks on the figure in order to open up those areas for the continuation of shaping to the basic form. It is during this carving to basic form that the ebb and flow of the design seem to dictate themselves adding to the originality and personality of the carving.  Carved out of one piece of wood means that there are no add-ons which makes the lips carved around the cigar appear very natural as does the hand holding the walking staff.  A wood burner was used to wood burn in the lines in the design of the coat and the bindle bag.  Artist oil paint and boiled linseed oil were used for the colored finish followed with a brushed on coat of Deft. (click on photo to enlarge.)