Jim Hecker of Elk River, MN and I have been carving friends since 2009 when we met at the International Woodcarver Congress in Iowa and have shared a common bond of friendship through carving activities ever since. He has mastered his own style of Flat Plane carving into what I call the “Hecker Style.”
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Rich Smithson of Helvie Knives has written a history sketch of the Wood Bee Carver Signature Series knives. The photo above is a photo of the # 1 – Universal Whittler (at top) Prototype of # 2 (in middle) and # 2 – Scimitar (at bottom). The prototype in the middle was made early on with an oak wood handle as a trial run with the cherry wood handle becoming the accepted handle. There were many prototypes of the various blade shapes designed by Mertz and Rich would make. Mertz would test and offer suggestions for blade revisions and handle shape, back and forth until a prototype passed the test and Rich would put it in projection. Rich was always eager to try a new Mertz design and always developed each design into another Signature Series Knife.
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Don Worley has developed a large family of Dudes that have been popular at carving shows with collectors and carvers who use them as go-bys for carving caricature faces. He is providing a valuable service to his students and fellow carvers who want to carve his inspired Dude Faces on triangle blocks.
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Remembering LARRY PIETY ~ 3/22/41 – 2/3/21
Larry Piety and I have been carving friends for over 25 years. He ended his life’s journey February 3, 2021 but continues to live on in the act of remembering. Memories remembered are almost as good as when the memory was first made and made even better in the gratitude of the one remembered. Remembering Larry is to acknowledge for those who knew him, that we are better persons for having known him. His love for his wife Jeannie and his family is the gift he has given to those he loved. His gift to students and education as a teacher, coach and administrator are lessons that inspired generations of those who knew him. The gift of his keen mind with questing interests, his conversational questions showed his sincere interest in other people’s stories, his good humor, quick wit and winsome smile drew us to his magnetic personality. His faith in God and helping hand service of loving neighbor shines a light on the path for us to follow. His creative gifts of working with wood and woodcarving exposed the beauty within his soul. And most especially those personal memories of his friendship of his kindred spirit will be with us as we remember all he means to us. The best that we can say about Larry is that we are better persons for having known him. “Thank you, Larry.”
Don Worley has developed a unique style of carving the human face in the caricature motif that not only brings a smile but also an appreciative admiration of his artistic interpretation. Several years ago, he introduced the “No-See-Um” faces carved with eyes covered with a hat or hair. This was followed by his “Biker Dudes” with eyes carved to add character to the Dudes. Then he expanded his repertoire with his “Bunkhouse Dudes” of Western cowboy faces.
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Keith Radick has a strong face with character that is a good subject for study. He is not only an accomplished carver but he also is a good sport by granting me permission to use his face for this study. The face on a WANTED poster is intended to be studied in case you ever see this character.
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Carve along with Don Worley by using his simple follow-along trail of photographs and landmark descriptions for carving Cowboy Dude refrigerator magnets.
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