Whittle Folk Busts originated in 1994 as a carving project that carved a face on the corner of a three inch by inch square block of basswood with a variety of themed subjects. An article was written in Chip Chats about that time to offer instructional guidelines for this carving project using only knives.
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The photo above is of the Three Amigos ~ Rusty, Crusty and Dusty. The first versions of these Cowpokes carved in 2009 can be viewed by clicking on THREE AMIGOS. In this version presented here represents a 2021 interpretation with slight variations in age and color of their outfits. A tutorial for carving Crusty may be viewed by clicking on Carving a Cowpoke. The tutorial can be adapted for carving any cowpoke with slight adjustments in pose, outfits and hand positions.
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Doodle Doods came into being as a byproduct of demonstration carvings done by the instructor in many classes over the years. The demonstration was part of a lesson on teaching the planes and angles of a male face as they fit into the Rule of Three of Facial proportions. The photo below shows the progression from a block of wood to a carved face.
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This series of photographs presents a brief visual tutorial on the opening phase of carving a Cowpoke which can be applied to any Cowpoke.
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Harold Enlow is perhaps the one name that is synonymous with caricature carving as a carver, author and instructor. His knowledge of carving is only surpassed by his quick wit and down to earth out going personality. For over fifteen years I have possessed one of his rough outs of a hillbilly couple. Well, here it is 2021 and I finally got around to carving and painting this rough out. There is little to be said about this carving that can be added to what the carving says in its visual presentation. The photos allow the carving to speak for itself as a Harold Enlow design interpreted by the Wood Bee Carver. Thank you, Harold.
A pirate has been a frequent carving project in which each new pirate carving is an interpretation of a familiar theme. Most pirate carvings have repeating themes of an eye patch, hook, peg leg, sword, craggy face with scars, skull with cross bones insignia and clothes that are representative of a pirate. Sometimes a braided pig tail will be added and perhaps rings in the ears. All in all, a pirate is fun to carve because of all the features that add to the carving challenges. The pirate featured in this posting include most of these characteristics.
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Five years after carving the first Pumpkin Doodle, the second one was carved in 2020. It was carved out of a six inch by two inch by inch and a half basswood block using knives in the Whittle-Carving style. Carving the first pumpkin doodle was an exercise in creativity. Carving the second, was of another phase of creativity that utilized a previously carved model. The creative tension was still there but not as intense since much of the design had already been discovered. The second approach was a little strained by not wanting to copy the original so that the second pumpkin doodle would have its own characteristics ever so slight. The basic form remained the same while each face took on a personality of its own.
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The first Scottish Golfers were carved in 2008 and has now been revisited with a 2020 carved version of these two Scotsmen. This posting will be devoted to a visual tour beginning with the beginning progressive stages of each one in front of photos from the 2008 carving exercise. Most of the photos will be of each Scotsman in there finished poses.
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