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GO-BY’S are in essence  “models” used for comparison during the carving of a given subject.  Some GO-BY’S are  carved to basic form and others are completely carved to give a before and after appearance for study and comparison.  Often GO-BY’S are used during a class setting where students can study the intricate and subtle carving cuts as well as the basic overall design of the basic form as well as detail finishing touches.  The two photographs above offer a variety of subjects that are carved to the basic form of a Santa, old geezer with pipe and crooked stick, a carpenter, a wizard and a gnome shown in a front and rear view.

In the following photographic journey are various GO-BY’S that are being used in scheduled classes and are offered here as a photographic study. (click on each photo to enlarge and then back arrow to return)  A photographic study is to allow the picture to speak a thousand words by visually studying each carving in an imagination carving mode imagining how each was carved out of a square block of basswood using only a knife in the Whittle-Carving style of the  WOOD BEE CARVER. Read the rest of this entry »

WHITTLE DWARFS are whittle (small) whimsical carvings adapted from the magical art world of my good friend Don Stephenson. His drawings of three Dwarf Wizards serve as a backdrop in the photograph of the two Whittle-Carved Whittle Dwarfs. Whittle Dwarfs began as a one and three quarter inch tall by one inch square block of basswood and are whittled into the basic form of Don Stephenson’s drawings.  There eyes are covered by their head covering reminiscent of Don Worley’s “No See-Ums” face creations.  These Whittle Dwarfs are fun to carve, cute to have sitting around on a table or shelf, lend themselves to whimsical imagination and utilize those little scraps of wood that are too good to throw away.

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The WHITTLE FOLK ART  certificate serves also as an educational tool for classes that the WOOD BEE CARVER  teaches.  Whittle-Carving  is carving only with a knife as an exercise in one of the most common forms of Folk Art.  The certificate states the Motto of the WOOD BEE CARVER  as “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood.”   Next comes the  WOOD BEE CARVER’S Rules  of one line lessons that are extremely important to the practice of Whittle-Carving.  The first four deal with the importance of “slicing with the cutting edge” as being the most efficient cut with a knife (as it is with any carving tool). The other sayings on the certificate hold significant meaning worth thinking about, but for this posting the central theme is that of learning to “slice with the cutting edge,”  as often as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Rich and Holli Smithson, owners and manufacturers of  HELVIE KNIVES  are known primarily for their quality carving knives and their unique basswood handled knives that can be used to carve one’s own design into the handle.  What is not well known is that Rich is also an artist at heart who sometimes creates beautiful wood burned and painted designs and scenes on handles of  HELVIE KNIVES.  Rich and Holli have graciously given me permission to post some of his artist creations so that others can appreciate another art form.  The gallery of knives that follow can be seen in a larger format by clicking on each photograph. Read the rest of this entry »

Hobos have a nostalgic appeal of an earlier time when itinerant labors traveled the country looking for work.  Their clothes were torn, tattered and well worn while their faces were road mapped with heavy road weary lines of a hard way of life. The Four Hobos in the picture on the left are carved caricatures whose names are left to right: Suds Larry, Soup Bone, Gunny Sack and Sulky Sal.

In spite of it all there was something romantic about  these knights of the road that gave a wanderlust appearance of an easy go lucky  way of life while there was none in reality.

A Hobo would travel looking for work while a Tramp simply traveled not looking for work and a Bum would neither travel nor look for work possessing only a hard luck story to con easy money.  The Hobo was the “common stiff” who was somebody’s friend, acquaintance or relative who showed up from time to time of itinerant travels following news of the next job. Read the rest of this entry »

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BITS AND PIECES  are carvings that are done to replenish the supply of novelty carvings for display at woodcarving shows and the occasional spur-of-the-moment carving  just for the fun of it.  The first three photographs are of  Tree Noggins carved out of basswood tree  limbs using only a knife.  The carved faces are finished with a coat of Howard Wax-N-Feed.  The fourth photograph above is of Pin Heads carved out of Doll Pins purchased at Hobby Lobby to resemble the old wooden clothes pin.  Pin Heads are carved with only a knife and finished with Howard Wax-N-Feed. 

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Rich and Holli Smithson, owners and manufacturers of  HELVIE KNIVES of Tipton, Indiana have  a growing collection of carved basswood handled Helvie Knives.  Basswood handles on Helvie Knives suitable for carving have been a staple among the many popular knives offered in their inventory.  Carvers from around the country have submitted their creations to add to this collection and Rich and Holli have granted me permission to post photographs of their collection.  This is in addition to the Caricature Carvers of America collection of carved handles as depicted in a previous posting.   Take a photographic journey to see this marvelous collection of creative and unique carved knife handles.

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