These two Magi carvings were commissioned for two friends to be added to earlier commissioned carvings for a Nativity Scene. Each Magi carving is the same Magi even though each one has features that make each one unique and distinct in their own right. Thus, using visual comparisons, the viewer can detect the subtle differences in the photographs below. Read the rest of this entry »
Wood that has character are those serendipity discoveries that appear when cutting into a block of wood. These character blemishes occur as the result of a tree healing itself when is limb is cut or broken off during the growth of the tree. It could be a knot, ingrown bark, fungus or natural occurring dark streaks. Such blemishes may imply inferior wood that has little use and is often discarded in the trash barrel or burned. But then, when you have a carver who follows the Old Carver’s Law: “Leave no wood un-carved,” such character wood becomes a source for a unique carving with its own character.
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Bookmarks carved using tongue depressors is another way to fulfill the Old Carver’s Law: “Leave no wood un-carved.” Since the tongue depressors are made from an unknown wood that in some cases has twisted grain and is prone to break caution is used while carving. The thin depressor is clamped to a paint paddle to support while carving. When finished the carved depressor is glued to another depressor for added strength to withstand breakage. The bookmarks pictured are using a tree theme while any other theme including lettering can be carved using a depressor. Where there is piercing, or an opening in the carved design, the background in the back up depressor after the gluing can be textured with a series of indentations using an awl or ice pick as was the case with these tree bookmarks. Read the rest of this entry »
The photos below are ornaments carved by the WOOD BEE CARVER to be included with one hundred carved ornaments on the Ornament Tree during the Dayton Artistry in Wood Show at the Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH ~ October 14 and 15 as one of the raffle prizes.
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Presenting a photographic review of recent carvings in preparation of upcoming carving shows. Each of the carvings pictured in this review are six-inch-tall figures of subjects that are signature carvings typical of the WOOD BEE CARVER’s style of carving. Read the rest of this entry »
The WOOD BEE CARVER is primarily a knife carver who practices a method for opening up a block of wood using only knives to shape and detail a subject to its completion. The most efficient use of a knife is to do slicing cuts either in the push or pull stroke. A slicing cut is what is used to slice a tomato, loaf of bread and baloney which is the same action for carving wood with a knife. Often the action is a “slice and roll” movement of the cutting edge of the knife through the wood using as much of the blade as possible for most cuts. Sometimes the front end of the blade is used more than the entire length but in all cases the slicing action is preferred for efficiency and clean cuts. Read the rest of this entry »
Whittle Folk Monks are three-inch-tall characters that are subjects used for instructional purposes as a beginning carving project that were introduced in 2009 [click on MONKS 1 and MONKS 2 for earlier postings.] The photos above show the front view and the back view of the row of monks in their finished poses of the 2017 versions of Monks. Read the rest of this entry »
VIPER III ~ Wood Bee Carver Signature Series Knife was used to carve these six Whittle Dwarfs while working at the Primary Election poll in between voters casting there ballots [which means it was a slow turn out of voters.] Whittle Dwarfs are an inch and half tall by inch square block of basswood and are basically all head with feet protruding under the jaw line. Howard Feed-N-Wax was used as the finish. VIPER III is made by HELVIE KNIVES and may be ordered by calling 765-675-8811
