Whittle Folk Monks are carved from a three inch by one inch square block of basswood making the face approximately three quarters of an inch long and a half of an inch wide. The face is proportioned using the Rule of Three for face proportions with one third from hairline to eyebrows, one third from eyebrows to bottom of nose and one third from bottom of nose to bottom of chin. Whittle Folk Monks are carved only with a knife with slicing cuts and hard line cuts creating shadows to enhance the detail and simulate movement. Each face is carved to take on a personality of its own as is depicted in the photographic Face Study below. Read the rest of this entry »
“A Long Knife Pirate,” was the title of a posting on this web log on June 18, 2009. That pirate has now been painted using the Painting Softly method. This pirate was Whittle-Carved using only the knife that appears in the photographs as an illustration of how versatile the scimitar blade shape is for carving in nooks and crannies where another blade shape would not be as efficient. Read the rest of this entry »
The WOOD BEE CARVER is primarily a knife carver who started as a boy growing up on a farm three miles south of Poneto, Indiana whittling with a pocket knife in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. In the early 1970’s David Monhollen showed me the fundamentals of carving and ever since I have pursued wood carving as a growing experience of learning by doing. Even though other carving tools are used in some carving projects, yet my first love is carving only with a knife. Thus I have developed a style I call “Whittle-Carving” which is simply carving only with a knife. Read the rest of this entry »
This little fella, called A Good Man, received his true colors the first week of June. He had been carved in April using a carving knife made by Allen Goodman. He stands three inches tall having been carved from a one inch square block by three inches. He was carved exclusively with the Goodman knife in the “Whittle-Carving” style.
Several poses of A Good Man gives a good, all around view of this Whittle-Carving. The last photograph shows the Allen Goodman knife used to carve this little fella. Allen makes a fine carving knife that has a up-sweep cutting edge and the back of the edge has a slight “sway back” curve. The design of this blade shape along with the springy flexibility of the blade allows for good slicing cuts and coming out of a cut without the back edge slowing down the cut. A Good Man was carved as a test of the versatility of Allen’s knife and it certainly passed the test. An Allen Goodman knife is a Good one. Read the rest of this entry »
The FOUR SEA CAPTAINS are the final results of the previous post entitled “Battle of the Knives.” The sea captains have received the painting process called “Painting Softly,” as described in earlier postings. Read the rest of this entry »
Most carvers have more than one carving knife and if the truth would be known, we carvers have in unquenchable thirst for accumulating carving knives. Among the several carving knives that a carver uses, which one is a cut above all the others? Which knife maker makes the better knife is sometimes a question asked as the search goes on for the best knife. Read the rest of this entry »
Even though the WOOD BEE CARVER is primarily a knife carver, yet learning to carve using real carving tools and other carving styles is a way to stretch one’s horizons. As often as I have a chance I take a carving class for the experience of learning something new and challenging.
Every carver should consider taking a carving class from time to time for learning and inspiration. We can read and study carving books and magazines, be observant at wood carving shows and participate in woodcarving club activities, but nothing takes the place of participating in a carving class. One learns not only from the instructor but also from fellow students. And besides it is a great way to makes good friends. Read the rest of this entry »
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The carving subject called “The Fundamentalist” has been carved several times. The August 20, 2008 posting offers a tutorial on carving a six inch tall Fundamentalist. In this posting the approach will be to offer several photographs as a visual study in the various stages in the carving of two Fundamentalist, twelve inches tall. A visual study is to study each photograph by allowing the eye and mind to explore the carving progressions imagining the carving process. Sometimes this is the best way for self discovery rather than having everything spelled out without reading between the lines. Read the rest of this entry »
