The idea for carving a Madonna and Child in the shape of the letter “J” connected to letters “O and Y” to spell “JOY” came from an editorial cartoon drawn by Steve Breen in 2007. A cartoon does not always have to evoke humor as much as it captures one’s imagination in a thoughtful manner. Such was the case with Steve Breen’s cartoon that nagged and prodded the creative muse to become a wood carving. Read the rest of this entry »
Doc Holiday is a historic figure who was part of the Gunfight at the OK Corral of Western lore. Many stories and movies interpreted with artistic license the character of Doc Holiday and there is no definitive and accurate account of where fact ends and fiction begins. Carving a figure of Doc Holiday becomes the imagination of the carver through various depictions of the Western outfit. In this case Doc is wearing a long dark duster over his suit vest, string tie and trousers. He is carrying a double barreled shot gun in his right hand while the butt of a pistol peaks out of the edge of the left side of his duster. Read the rest of this entry »
A Fifty Wedding Anniversary gift was carved out of a butternut wood strip measuring six inches long, two and a half inches tall and a half inch thick. The letters ”L – O – V –E” were drawn on the wood freehand with each letter slightly behind the preceding letter in a stair step fashion. Knife cuts were used to shape the letters with the help of a gouge. A shallow gouge was used to texture the front of the letters while the number five was recessed in the back to join with the opening of the letter “O” to form the number “50”. A Danish Oil finish was applied followed with a soft paste wax that was buffed to a rich sheen. The Love plaque is intended to stand on its own as a table top decoration with the beauty of love backed up with fifty years of marriage. All of which is a metaphor for a love that lasts.
Carvers are commissioned to carve various subjects that offer a challenge to grow in the carving experience. Every carving project is a learning experience of trying new and different subjects. Recently a friend gave a commission to carve “game pieces” for a board game in the genre of “Monopoly” but in this case is a drug intervention and instructional game for youth.
The six game pieces requested included a judge, lawyer, counselor, policeman, sheriff, and the accused. Each was to be carved out of a three quarter inch square by and inch and half tall block of basswood and thusly “miniature” size. (click on each photo to enlarge) Read the rest of this entry »
The mental image normally associated with “Gnome” is the little character who advertises for a travel company or for the “Garden” variety that are available in gift shops wearing a red pointed hat, blue tunic and sporting a white beard and mustache.
Gnomes are imaginary characters so it is OK to use one’s imagination in carving a gnome in a non-traditional style. In fact carving should be a creative process that allows imagination to be set free to create in a style only imagination can visualize. All too often in the carving journey a carver wears a strait jacket of staying within the lines of convention by carving in a predetermined style or one similar to what everybody is carving. Read the rest of this entry »
