The photo above is of sculpture created by Salvatore Virdis whose work can be viewed on Facebook by searching “Salvatore Virdis-Scultore in legno” in the search box on Facebook, The Wood Bee Carver uses this photo as inspiration for the study of carving faces in the folder entitled “Saving Face.”
A Chip Carving friend, Marshall Stearns coined the phrase, “Carving is like taking a bath ~ You do it everyday or you stink.” There is great value in carving every day, if nothing more than guiding the carving tool through the wood making a variety of experimental cuts. A long time the Wood Bee Carver has said, “Woodcarving is more the journey rather than the destination,” which means the shear enjoyment that comes to the carver in the process of carving. The destination would be the completion of a carving project, but once finished the carver longs to get back to the process and activity of carving.
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Ornaments carved at Christmas time are to bring Love, Joy, Peace, Hope with the celebration of Noel and of course Santa. The ornament gallery that follows are those carved for 2019.
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A grandmother requested a caricature carving of her grandson and son as crossbow deer hunters wearing camo gear. Using a candid photo of father and son as a guide to inspire the imagination process resulted in carving the nine-year-old grandson holding a crossbow and the father holding a sling shot as a bit of teasing humor of who was the serious hunter. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITTLE DWARFS are whimsical carvings in a one inch square by inch and half tall basswood block. Dwarfs are carved with two feet sticking out underneath the chin of the large head and eyes are covered with the bill or brim of the hat. Each one is a little different from any other of similar pose. Using only a knife to shape each dwarf allows for the texture of the whittled facets to give color to each carving while Howard Feed-n-Wax provides the protective finish. Whittling has always been viewed as a relaxing style of carving and is a fun way to relax. As my good whittling friend Billy Stephens said in an original saying, “There is never a dull moment with a sharp knife and a piece of wood,” Whittle Dwarfs are a fun way to whittle away time in a care free manner.
21 Whittle Dwarfs will make their appearance at the Miami Valley Woodcarving Show ~ March 2 and 3 at Middletown, OH ~ Christ United Methodist Church ~ Corner of Grand Avenue and Marshall Road.
Click on this link ~“Whittle Dwarf Tutorial” ~ to see instructions for carving Whittle Dwarfs.
A “Merry Christmas” greeting in the form of a Whittle-Carved Santa ornament (6 ” x 4″ x 1/4″ ~ basswood). Whittle-Carved means carved using only knives to shape and detail the carving.
Miami Valley Woodcarving Show is located in the Christ United Methodist church, 700 S. Marshall Road, Middletown, OH (corner of Grand Ave and Marshall Road). March 3 and 4, 2018.
