Every carving project begins within the imagination of the artist and is enhanced by doing research to bring the imagined project into focus with additional visual memory. The “Three Confederate Soldiers” carving project allowed for learning more about the subjects to enhance the project. The soldier wearing the yellow kepi cap depicts a Calvary officer. The gray kepi cap on the second soldier represents the infantry soldier. The Artillery soldier is wearing a red kepi cap. The colors of the kepi cap and trim of the uniforms distinguished their respective branch of service rather than a whimsy of personal choice.
The carving of a Confederate Calvary Officer explored a less common depiction of the common soldier of gray by emphasizing a little change of color in the uniform. Uniforms were more varied than uniform as would be commonly assumed. This carving represents the appearance of a dress uniform with a yellow kepi cap and a lighter gray almost white jacket with yellow trim. The Calvary soldier wore knee high boots, a holstered side arm and a saber.
A carving of any subject is always an interpretation within the creative imagination of the artist in wood. This carving of a Confederate Artillery Officer has been carved in the Whittle-Carving style of using only knives to carve a representation of a historic figure. The pose includes a cannon ram rod to suggest the artillery motif of the soldier and his outfit is suggestive of his uniform and equipment without being inclusive of the entire outfit. A basswood block measuring nine inches tall, three inches wide and two inches deep was used to create the carving.
The three clowns of this carving project are a repeat performance of previously carved clowns of similar appearance. Each is carved from a six inch tall by an inch and half square block of basswood and finished with artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil.
The visual image of this carved pirate has been carved several times as a red beard or black beard pirate. It only stands to reason in the imaginary world of pirate myth that there surely were old pirates who had weathered the seas of ancient history. Such is the reason for carving another version of this carving pirate theme with a gray beard and braided hair. A pirate is a carver’s dream of a carving project because of the variety of anomalies of design compared with a regular figure.
In May, 2018 the first Old Geezer was carved and this was what was said about him ~ 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.
Each cowpoke will be presented in the gallery below following the line up of the group photo at the top of this posting going left to right beginning with “Drifter” ~ “Lasso” ~ “Cactus” ~ “Fuzzy” ~ “Tumbleweed”.
The carving project that is the subject of this posting is the “SHAPE UP” carving of five cowpokes in succession but one at a time to complete the project. Each is carved using a six-inch-tall by inch and half square basswood block.