WHITTLE DWARFS are whimsical carvings in a one inch square by inch and half tall basswood block.  Dwarfs are carved with two feet sticking out underneath the chin of the large head and eyes are covered with the bill or brim of the hat.  Each one is a little different from any other of similar pose.  Using only a knife to shape each dwarf allows for the texture of the whittled facets to give color to each carving while Howard Feed-n-Wax provides the protective finish. Whittling has always been viewed as a relaxing style of carving and is a fun way to relax.  As my good whittling friend Billy Stephens said in an original saying, “There is never a dull moment with a sharp knife and a piece of wood,” Whittle Dwarfs are a fun way to whittle away time in a care free manner.

Troll Brothers are three-inch-tall caricatures whose homely features lend themselves to experiment with facial features.  Each begins as a three inch by inch and half square block of basswood and are carved into shape using two experimental proto type knives. Read the rest of this entry »

The Beatles were carved as a commission for the HELVIE COLLECTION using a variety of the Wood Bee Carver Signature Series knives made by HELVIE KNIVES. Knives used included the three SIDE KICK knives #’s 25, 26, 27; the Bumble Bee # 13 and the Viper Bee #22 as depicted in the photo below. Read the rest of this entry »

The term “BLOCK HEAD CARVING” is coined to describe the carving process of carving from a “block” of wood and using one’s “head” in the carving process to shape the wood into a carving project.  The use of “head” refers to the carver’s imagination partnering with the carver’s creative carving ability to figure out how to carve an envisioned image.  This approach of opening up a block of wood being guided by imagination is to discover in the shaping process the “design by carving”.  Often in the process of removing wood chips the remaining carved facets on the shaped block will suggest an innovation in design of the envisioned image. Read the rest of this entry »

The WOOD BEE CARVER approaches each carving project as a learning experience with continuing discoveries in the carving process.  Long he has encouraged carvers to do a twenty minute a day exercise of experimenting with a carving tool and a piece of wood to discover a variety of cuts and maneuvers in shaping a piece of wood as the cutting tool slices through the wood.  Coupled with that idea is the experience that the more one carves the better one carves because of the ongoing learning process. Carving with greater frequency allows for the carver’s imagination to grow with creativity which contributes to a sharpening of carving skill and creative design.  All of which are inherent in the motto: “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood.” Read the rest of this entry »

Rich Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES has invited the Signature Series Knife carvers to carve a caricature carving holding a Signature Series knife.  This is the WOOD BEE CARVER’s carving that is a “selfie” using the DRAGON II Signature Series Knife as a cane. Read the rest of this entry »

The carving entitled “Wingtip” is an illustration for a discussion about “Artistic Expressive Opinions” in the design motifs of the Whittle-Carving style of carving only with a knife. These Artistic Opinions are what guides the WOOD BEE CARVER having been discovered in the woodcarving journey of the past forty years of knife carving. That Journey continues to make discoveries and innovations are constantly being employed. Read the rest of this entry »