A recent commission to carve two figures representative of Phil Robertson dressed in camouflage resulted in these two carvings. The design of the camouflage fatigues was created by wood burning the darker designs on the bare basswood followed by the painting process of a tan color to simulate desert camouflage.
The caricature likeness of the Duck Dynasty character was made possible by incorporating certain characteristics identified with the character. A duck call in one hand, a shot gun in the other hand, the camouflage head band and the signature beard and mustache outfits this carving into a reasonable likeness of the character.
A study of the photographs will reveal that each carving while similar yet each is unique in its own interpretation of the same subject. Most carvings are interpretations rather than a mirror image of the original. It is the interpretation mixed with imagination of the eye and mind that make each carving come alive. (click on each photo to enlarge) Read the rest of this entry »
Rich Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES pulled a fast one on two of his Signature Knife friends by asking each one to carve a block of basswood into a knife blade holder for the other friend without telling us that we were each doing it for one another. Read the rest of this entry »
This Plumber’s Helper caricature of a plumber riding a Helper like it was a pogo stick is a humorous way of illustrating how that Helper could be used in the imagination of the absurd. A caricature is always an “exaggeration of realism,” both in the carved figure and in the story it is telling.
The child in each of us remembers the suction cup toy guns and bow and arrow toys that would shoot a suction cup missile. Licking the inside of the suction cup with moisture would cause the suction cup to stick to the object it touched. The suction cup was very much like the “plumber’s helper” which was often used in childhood cartoons like the suction cup toys.
This caricature was carved out of a three inch tall by inch and half square block of basswood and painted with artist oil paints thinned with boiled linseed oil. Read the rest of this entry »
The iconic Mother and Child image was created a long time ago in antiquity using a simple design whose beauty is in its simplicity.
This woodcarving is an interpretation carved only with a knife in butternut wood. The three inch by two and half inch carving is finished with an oil finish followed with a coat of Deft and then Howard Feed-N-Wax.
The various views from different angles give a panoramic view of the Mother and Child carving whose simple beauty is the story it tells ~ a Christmas Story of Love.
UNCLE JIMMY is a caricature of someone everyone knows, either as a family member or a character of our acquaintance. “Jimmy” is a nickname that is given to a short “crow bar”, to a “truck” or in some locales “Jimmy” refers to a “Stranger.” Often used in the phrase “jimmy a lock” a Jimmy is ingenious for getting into and out of tight places. A Jimmy may be short and stocky and is still as strong as a truck. A Jimmy may be a stranger but not for long because most a-fella called “Jimmy” is a fun loving and lovable character.
This carving of caricature Jimmy is carved out of a four and half inch tall by an inch and half square block of basswood. This particular block of basswood is not the best quality due to its dark streaks and flaws and yet like people there are no worthless pieces of wood. The key in both is to find their good qualities and make something of them. A stranger is a friend who has not yet been discovered and a scrappy piece of wood is a work of art yet to be created. So whether the “Jimmy” is a person or a wooden caricature discover the hidden treasure in each.
Caricature Jimmy was carved using a HELVIE Signature Series # 3-1 and a # 6-2 Mini. Jimmy was finished with the monochrome finish of artist oil paint Raw Sienna thinned with boiled linseed oil. The monochrome finish was chosen to show off the flaws in the wood that gives character to the caricature. Read the rest of this entry »
THIS-N-THAT is a collection of carvings done randomly and are showcased here as a photographic diary of a variety of carvings.
Ornaments were carved from drawings by Don Stephenson. The LOVE plaque was carved out of butternut and was a wedding gift to dear friends. The two scoop spoon was carved for Norb Hartman on his BIG birthday. Read the rest of this entry »
The WOOD BEE CARVER often says, “The more you carve the better you carve,” and in that vein suggests that once a carving project is completed there is great value in carving it again and again. The reason being that since each carving is a learning journey; each carving subject repeated will allow the carver’s creative sub conscious to improve on the previous carving. Read the rest of this entry »
The WOOD BEE CARVER often says, “The more you carve the better you carve,” and in that vein suggests that once a carving project is completed there is great value in carving it again and again. The reason being that since each carving is a learning journey; each carving subject repeated will allow the carver’s creative sub conscious to improve on the previous carving. Read the rest of this entry »