A block of basswood awaits the sharp cutting edge of carving tools to open its potential of a carving project.  A New Year awaits with untold carving potential for  any carver to put carving tools to the wood to carve new projects.  A block of wood holds a secret awaiting to be revealed by carving away wood surrounding the secret.  The carver’s mind holds a secret of creativity that awaits being revealed during the carving process.  The only way each secret will come to life is for the carver to carve rather than just dreaming of carving. Read the rest of this entry »

Woodcarving Illustrated hosted a Spit-N-Whittle booth at the Artistry in Wood Show, Dayton, Ohio November 14 and 15.  Individual carvers were scheduled to demonstrate carving a project for an hour as a way to interact with show patrons and offer encouragement for wood carving.  What follows  are photographs of some of those carvers during their demonstration hour and visitors listening and watching. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the WAG School Woodcarving:   http://wagcarvingschool.com/default.aspx

The WAG School of Woodcarving holds 3 day carving events that join student with some of the finest carving instructors in the Southeast. Included in the cost of tuition is full room and board. There is no need to try and find a hotel or good place to eat. We take care of all that for you. All you have to worry about is becoming the best carver you can be. Read the rest of this entry »

A very great and humbling honor was bestowed upon me when the members of the Caricature Carvers of America elected me along with Mitchell Cartledge of North Carolina as the 2009 new Members into CCA  at their Annual Meeting in  Branson, Missouri the week end of September 26, 2009.

CCA came into existence to encourage caricature carving as well as showcase caricature carving as  ART within the woodcarving genre.  This is accomplished through sponsoring an annual mail-in caricature carving competition, seminars in various locations across the nation,  publication of CCA carving projects, awarding Merit Award Certificate and Ribbon to deserving carvers of caricatures at wood carving shows and each member of CCA being an ambassador of caricature carving.

A more detailed description of CCA is described at their web site:  http://www.cca-carvers.org/

ARTISTRY IN WOOD at Dayton, Ohio is one of the premier wood carving shows across the nation.  There are approximately two hundred wood carvers and wood workers  who show and sell their creations of art and craftsmanship at this two day show November 14 and 15, 2009.  http://www.daytoncarvers.com/ will give more details on Artistry in Wood.

Carvers from all across the United States will be represented while the quality and variety of carvings and woodwork provide something for anyone’s aesthetic appreciation.   Carvings entered into competition are of the highest quality providing the visitor with a sense of awe at the beauty and creativity of each variety of carvings.

Tool vendors and wood suppliers will be available to offer whatever the carver needs to enhance their wood carving and working experiences.  Demonstrations, youth woodworking activities, special exhibits, door prizes, raffle and silent auction add to the visitors’ interest.

Artistry in Wood is easy to find following the map at the left and there is plenty of free public parking with admission of $7.00 a day or $10.00 for two day pass.  There is plenty to see and do and if one has never been, then this would be a good year to come and see for yourself.  Come early, stay late to experience wood carving at its best.  When you come look for me in the southeast corner of the Expo Center and we will talk woodcarving (as if there was any other subject worth talking about.)

Fred Cogelow receives Best of Show honors for his carving of a young lad sitting on a log while reading a book.  Fred was also one of the instructors during Congress week of seminars. Read the rest of this entry »

Denny Neubauer, the founder and maker of “Denny Knives and Tools” is first and foremost a carver.  He made his now famous and favorite carving tools first for himself and then founded a manufacturing company to serve the carving community with his speciality tools.  In the photograph Denny is teaching at the recent AWC International Woodcarvers Congress a class on carving on Denny Knife handles. Read the rest of this entry »