The WOOD BEE CARVER has long advocated that when a carver finished carving one subject, turn around and carve it again and again and again. Each time a subject is carved again the carver’s creative subconscious will guide in the carving with innovations in design and subtle differences. Every carving is a learning experience and the more one carves the better one carves in the repetitive process of practicing the art of carving. The four Hobbits pictured in this study illustrate the results of learning by repetition as well as each carving project is fun to do. Read the rest of this entry »
The carving of Pete Rose was done for Rich Smithson of Helvie Knives. It was carved from a two inch by three inch by seven inch block of basswood. Knives used for this carving were Helvie Knives from the WOOD BEE CARVER Signature series. Read the rest of this entry »
Gnome Wizard was carved out of an inch and half square by three inch tall block of basswood. The Gnome Wizard is carved with a twist of the body, with head tilted up and a flowing beard and mustache. Such a pose presents an interesting sense of motion while the viewer’s eyes travel the twists and turns of the flowing lines. Such a piece presents a challenge of skill by figuring out what wood needs to be removed to create such a sense of movement. This project also teaches the necessary benefit of carving to basic form before ever attempting to carve any details. Such a process allows creative imagination to help form the design during the carving process that gives a special kind of freedom of creativity. Read the rest of this entry »
Hobbit Blade Cover was carved for a charity fund raising project that Rich, Holli and Skylar Smithson (HELVIE KNIVES) are working on for next year. Read the rest of this entry »
The Pirate Head was carved as a segment for a Friendship Cane that will be a raffle prize at a carving show. Read the rest of this entry »
Vineland Vagrant is a cousin of Hillsboro Hobo and Ft. Worth Hobo (earlier hobo carvings) being the third version of hobos with almost identical features and design. These hobos begin as a two inch square by six inch tall block of basswood. Bud Murray Knives were used exclusively to carve each hobo. To find out more about these knives visit the Cool Links listing and click on “Bud Murray Knives.” Read the rest of this entry »
Cowboys have always been heroes in the romantic nostalgia of Western lore. In the classic ballad, “The Streets of Laredo,” is the line that says, “I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy.” It is the outfit that a cowboy wore that made him a “dude” or a “gun fighter” or a “saddle tramp” or a “buckaroo” or a “cowpoke” or quite simply a “cowboy. Read the rest of this entry »
The Farmer was carved using a six inch tall by an inch and half square block of basswood in the Whittle-Carving Style of carving only with a knife. Carving from a block of wood is much different than carving from a rough out or a sawed out blank. The biggest difference is that it sets free the creative spirit to develop the overall design while shaping the block of wood into the basic form of the subject being carved. Read the rest of this entry »