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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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 »
As a student in a class taught by Bruce Henn, I carved a Sombrero Guy using one of Bruce’s rough outs putting my own interpretation of what was inside the rough out. Every carving project is a learning experience with challenges and new paths to follow. That is one advantage of taking a class in that one learns not only from the instructor but also from the camaraderie of fellow students and the carving process. There was plenty of wood within this rough out for me to turn the head slightly, thin the face and add the bandoleer across the chest of the Sombrero Guy. Read the rest of this entry »
TOM TROLL came about from my good friend Don Stephenson who gave me a drawing of a troll. Don is a creative artist who comes up with delightful drawings from his imaginative mind and artistic ability. He has given me a lot of good idea drawings for carving projects that will surely come to life as a carving. Trolls are imaginary creatures who are more lovable than scary although like humans some trolls stray from their nobler purposes. Trolls may be ugly but ugly is beautiful if one takes the time to see the beauty. Trolls may be thick skulled but slowness of mind understands the simple. Often it is the simple who are the wisest and beauty is an inner quality. 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.
