Cowpokes are carved out of one and half inch square by six inch tall blocks of basswood using traditional carving tools although a knife plays a big role in detail finishing.  Pictured above are two unfinished Cowpokes.  The one of the left is partially opened up with some guidelines draw in key areas.  The one on the right has been carved to its finished detail awaiting only an oil finish, either monochrome (one color) or polychrome (many colors) oil finish. Read the rest of this entry »

Inspiration for carving projects comes in various ways.  Upon receiving a Father’s Day card with the picture of a chimp in a cowpoke outfit was just the ticket for the next carving project.  Using the general guideline for carving six inch tall Cowpokes, this carving simply changed the facial detail into a primate rather than a human.  Every carving project is a new learning experience making Top Banana a journey of learning while having fun with the challenge.  Making it more of a challenge, Top Banana was carved using only one knife made by Ralph E. Long with a scimitar blade shape. Read the rest of this entry »

The idea for carving An Eagle who is carrying off a golfer began in 1978 as a future carving project.  Over the years the idea would come to the top of mental search  engine called “imagination” but was not ready to become reality.  An “Eagle” is a golfing term meaning “two under par” so to “shoot an eagle” for a golfer is a sign of having a good game.  This carving idea is turning a golfing term into a humorous interpretation or a caricature with an opposite meaning from reality.

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A Treble Clef proudly stands erect on a base in the form of a Grand Piano with the name of the recipient carved into the music rack.  This carving out of butternut wood was a commission piece for a birthday gift to the wife of a loving and appreciative husband.  As a commission piece the commissioner offered the general idea of a grand piano to be carved for his wife of fifty years who plays the piano.  The carver was instructed to come up with a design that would by symbolic of a musician who is a pianist. Read the rest of this entry »

WHITTLE FOLK MONKS are Whittle-Carved out of a one inch square by three inch tall block of basswood.  They are often used as a class project for the teaching of face carving only with a knife.  The face is the first thing seen on a carving and since the body of the monk is covered with a robe the face received the most attention of detail carving.  An earlier posting of Whittle Folk Monk Faces presented a photographic study of faces. Read the rest of this entry »

MASTER SERGEANT is a commission carving that was presented as a gift by a loving wife and son to  Air Force Master Sergeant Dan J. Williams as a retirement gift.  Even though the carving is of a Civil War Union Soldier, yet some artist license was taken to include personal symbols to have significance to the recipient. Read the rest of this entry »

The MAGNIFICENT SEVEN represent the first of a beginning series of Whittle Poke Busts.  Each is carved only with a knife using a one and half inch square by three inch tall block of basswood.  A natural finish of artist oil Raw Sienna paint mixed with boiled linseed oil brings each carving to life with a soft glow that shows off the texture of the carving cuts.  Texture is color easily seen through a natural finish. Read the rest of this entry »