Trolls are imaginary characters who came into existence through the imagination of ancient story tellers. The visual likeness of trolls is based upon the verbal descriptions in these old stories. WHITTLE FOLK TROLLS are a carver’s imagination carved into a three-inch-tall by inch and a half square block of basswood and are carved using only carving knives.
A carving of an Ohio High School Athletic Association umpire was commissioned to be given as a birthday gift to the umpire as a surprise. The only personal reference was a photograph of the person that was enhanced by further search of umpire images on the internet. All through the carving stages the one photograph was a central part of the creative balance between a two-dimensional reference and the carving of a three-dimensional representation of the photographic image.
Rich Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES commissioned a carving of an old-time football player who wore the marks on his face of a rough game. Notice his left eye is almost swollen shut, black and blue around the eye as well as on his broken nose and a tooth has been knocked out. The strap on his leather helmet has been torn during the game and yet he now stands with a stoic stance holding on to the football. The name “HELVIE” is on the back of his jersey and the number “3” is on his chest.
Be warned, “the Old Geezers are coming, the Old Geezers are coming, the Old Geezers are coming ~ it is an Old Geezer Apocalypse.” Old Geezers are all around us. They may go by other names like grumpy old men, old coots, curmudgeons, codgers, old soldier, old fogy, fuddy-duddy, Gramps or old timer. One way or another we all are inching our way to becoming an Old Geezer.
This six inch tall carving of an Old Geezer is an example of a mental image of such a delightful and fun loving Old Timer who could tell us wonderful tales, some true, some exaggerated and many repeated. He is a solemn reminder of who we may become, so beware. One final thought, Old Geezers are fond of whittling as well as spinning yarns. Join the Old Geezer Apocalypse.
Don Worley announces the availability of his newly published book “Carving Biker Dudes” selling for $18 and will be available through classes he will teach in Taylor Mills, KY (May 4 and 5) ~ Wilmot, OH (June 1 and 20) ~ Buckeye Roundup, Fletcher, OH (July 25 through 28) or by ordering directly from Worley by contacting him by email~ deworley429@gmail.com
Don Worley carves very unique caricature faces that are good study faces. He calls these magnet face carvings “Biker Dudes,” who were introduced in an earlier posting: “Carving Biker Dudes by Don Worley”. The next two photos are of more of Worley’s creations for study and to see them in person ~ Don will have them available at the Dayton Artistry in Wood Show, October 13 and 14, 2018 at the Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH.
LITTLE STINKER knives are designed by the WOOD BEE CARVER and made by HELVIE KNIVES. These are DETAIL carving knives intended to be used in a slicing action (like slicing a tomato or bread) while being held like a pencil between the thumb and index finger while resting on the second finger and in the crook of hand between the thumb joint and the index finger. The slender wooden handle is comfortable when held pencil fashion rather than in the palm of hand as when holding a larger bladed knife. Each knife can be held in the palm of the hand for short periods of time to make certain cuts but not for long periods of time.
Whittle-Carving is carving using only knives to shape the wood. Whittle-Carving is also “free hand” style of carving in that the basic form of the carving appears as the wood is shaped with the slicing of the knife. “Free hand” is also an “imagination” guided process of shaping the wood to correspond with the image in the mind of the carver. Every carving project is a learning project that is also guided by imagination at work in the carving process as the carver learns through the challenge of bringing what is imagined into a recognizable reality.