Sage of the Road is a hobo carving that is serving as a model for another hobo carving of Rube who will be carved out of the basswood block standing behind Sage of the Road. The block is five inches tall by two and a half inches square.  Hobos are nostalgic and romantic figures of a by-gone era that some call the “good ole days.”

Hobos began around the American Civil War and were itinerant labors who traveled all over the country in search of adventure as well as work.  It has been said that a “hobo is one who travels for work, a tramp travels but will not work and a bum neither travels nor works.”  Some say that the term “hobo” is a shortened version of “hoe boy” or an itinerant farm laborer who carried his hoe with his bindle bag tied to the hoe handle. 

Even though “hoboing” was often a hard and dangerous way of life, yet its freedom and adventure created a colorful way of life along with colorful characters.  Hobo carvings is an attempt to capture that color.

These three photographs are to study the comparison between Sage and Rube along with a block of basswood the same size as the one from which Rube was carved.  The RULE OF THREE for Body Proportions are indicated on the block to correspond with the completed carvings.

The first thing carved in the block of wood was the head covering and the head along with establishing the top of the shoulders.  Once the head is carved to its basic size and form then the rest of the block of wood is divided into three equal division that establish the location of the shoulders, waist, knees and bottom of feet.  Once these are established then the parts of the body can be drawn and carved to their basic form.  Once the entire body has received its basic form and shape then individual areas are carved in detail.

These three photographs study the three divisions of facial proportions of the RULE OF THREE.  The cap covers the hair line and half of the forehead, so that third needs to be imagined.

The middle third of the face is the section between the eyebrow and the bottom of the nose which also determines the length of the ear which sits on the back half on the side of the head.  The bottom third is the bottom of nose to bottom of chin.

The bottom third proportion is also divided into three sections of the RULE OF THREE for the mouth/jaw barrel: Bottom of Nose to Top Lip is one third, Top Lip to Indention between bottom lip and chin is one third and Indention to bottom of Chin is one third. Study all three photographs to begin to see the facial proportions.

These three photographs study incorporating “S” curves into the flow of clothing lines as well as the effect of tears at elbow and shoulder seams coming apart.

These three photographs show the carving details of frayed pant cuffs, torn knees and  plaid patch on knee.

These photogrpahs show the completed Rube.  The cigar is carved as coming out of his mouth which results is very thin and weak  cross grained area that is strengthened by soaking the cigar with super glue.  The same was done to the bill of his cap and the toes of his feet and shoes. His thumb nail was created by making a slicing  cut on top of the thumb which creates facet that reflects light to give the appearance of a thumb nail.    Day old whiskers were made by randomly pushing the point of the knife into the face to simulate whiskers.

The name “Rube” as in “he is a rube” means an “unsophisticated character,” and yet this Rube does have character as a “Knight of the Road.”