Don Mertz, the WOOD BEE CARVER is pictured holding the Seminole Indian Bust in his carving room in which the journey of carving is explored on a daily basis. “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood,” so the best way to learn is to carve as often as possible and in as many subjects that are captured in the carver’s imagination. The Seminole Indian Bust is a most recent learning project.
Every carving project is a learning project to sharpen the carver’s ability and whet the creative muse of imagination becoming reality. The Seminole Indian Bust is a commission carving for someone who favors Florida State Seminoles athletic teams. The team mascot as well as team logo were used for the beginning of research which led to historic photographs and written history of the noble people known as Seminole. One of the chief characteristics of the Seminole people was the wearing of ostrich plume feathers in a head band or turban. Read the rest of this entry »
The Indian bust carving project is another “Journey in learning” for the WOOD BEE CARVER who is primarily a knife carver. This Indian bust project is carving a subject larger than what is normally carved as well as using traditional carving tools rather than just a knife.
The photographic journey begins with square cornered block of butternut, continues through carving to basic form and concludes with several views of the finished carving.
The Indian bust began as a seven inch by five inch by three and half inch block of butternut. The gouges used for this project were made by Everett Cutsinger many years ago and continue to be a pleasure to use in the carving process. The large knife used for removing excess wood in the roughing out stage was made by John Dunkle. Read the rest of this entry »
Whittle Dwarfs are whimsical whittlings that are primarily all head with the semblance of a squatty body and small feet left to imagination. Whittle Dwarfs begin as an inch square by an inch and half tall block of basswood. Their eyes are covered with a hat showing a nose protruding from under the hat. The rest of the face can be carved with a variety of mustache and beard styles as well as some with a toothy grin or a mouth carved with various expressions. Read the rest of this entry »
Three more Egg Noggins carved out of basswood hen eggs are examples of face carving. These are another example of Whittle-Carving using only a knife to carve facial features. Each is finished with a monochrome coloring of Raw Sienna artist oil paint and Boiled Linseed Oil mixed together. A monochrome finish amplifies the carving texture making the texture the color.
The four views of each noggin will be followed by close up views a points of interest in each noggins. To see previous postings on Egg Noggins go to “Blog Index Map” under Main Menu – scroll down to “Carving Projects” to find postings with “Egg Noggins” in title. Read the rest of this entry »
Carved knife blade covers offer a fun and functional carving project. Here are two more blade covers carved out of butternut wood and finished with Howard Feed N Wax. Photographs of three views of each blade cover follow. Read the rest of this entry »
The faces carved into this two by two inch square block of basswood three inches tall is to be a part of a friendship cane. Each face was carved using a Murray 529 Knife pictured in the photograph. The Whittle-Carving style of the WOOD BEE CARVER demonstrates what can be done using only a knife. The monochrome finish is a mixture of Raw Sienna artist oil paint mixed with Boiled Linseed Oil followed by an application of the brushing lacquer Deft. Read the rest of this entry »
Heroes are depicted in photograph with The Rifleman on left, coal miner in center and The Lone Ranger on the right. Each was carved out of an inch square by four inch tall block of basswood and colored with artist oil paint and boiled linseed oil. Read the rest of this entry »
Commission Carvings can now be shown on this blog in that many of them were to be Christmas gifts. The photographic journey of each carving is presented with multiple views for careful and carveful study. Each one is an example of Whittle-Carving that uses only knives in the carving process. The finish is a combination of boiled linseed oil and artist oil paint with the monochrome color being raw sienna and boiled linseed oil. The polychrome coloration is various colors of artist oil paints and boiled linseed oil followed by an application of Deft, a brushing lacquer.
The photographic journey that follows depict a Civil War Soldier bust carved out of basswood hen egg; Cow Pokes carved out of a two inch tall by inch square block of basswood; CSA Soldier carved out of an inch and half square by six inch tall block of basswood and a Crony With Cigar knife blade cover. Read the rest of this entry »
