A “Slug” is sometimes referred to as a “slow and lazy person” as in “sluggard.” It also refers to gulping down a drink, a type setting term used in the old printing business, a fist punch thrown in a fight, a bullet and a counterfeit metal disk inserted into an old time slot machine. In the case of HOBO “SLUGGS” the nickname is for a shiftless traveler of the road who is thought to be a lazy person but in this hobo’s case he is “slow” by never getting in a hurry as in taking life “slow and easy.”
Such a “slow and easy” temperament makes “Sluggs” a likable character who wiggles his way into the heart of everyone he meets. His outer appearance may show the wear and tear of the hobo way of life while the aura of his personality suggests that pretense does not always tell the true story. “Slow and easy,” is to savor each moment of the day, relish the strength of friendship and bask in the wealth of memories remembered and being made. Sluggs reminds us that we all cannot be footloose and fancy free but we can take life “slow and easy” by not taking ourselves so seriously by taking time to enjoy the journey instead of eying the destination that is often illusive. Read the rest of this entry »
Hobos are colorful characters who lend themselves to caricature carving by exaggerating the realistic image of a hobo into an artist interpretation. A picture is worth a thousand words making this Hobo Study through photographs to speak for themselves. (click on photos to enlarge) Read the rest of this entry »
Vineland Vagrant is a cousin of Hillsboro Hobo and Ft. Worth Hobo (earlier hobo carvings) being the third version of hobos with almost identical features and design. These hobos begin as a two inch square by six inch tall block of basswood. Bud Murray Knives were used exclusively to carve each hobo. To find out more about these knives visit the Cool Links listing and click on “Bud Murray Knives.” Read the rest of this entry »
Ft. Worth Hobo is a second version of Hillsboro Hobo as described in a previous posting under the category of Hobos. He is the second hobo that is beginning to take shape in the last series of the Hillsboro Hobo picture display.
This photographic journey is a visual study of the completion of a second hobo with similar characteristic to Hillsboro Hobo.
Hillsboro Hobo was carved out of a two inch square by six inch tall block of basswood using a Bud Murray Knife # 529. Typical motifs characteristic of the mental picture of a hobo are depicted in this carving. “Clothes make the man” or in this case “make the hobo” with torn elbow of jacket, torn shoulder seams and torn knee of trousers. Patches at the elbow, knee and seat of the pants along with a disheveled shirttail plus the toes coming out of his shoes all add up to the appearance of a hobo. The traditional bindle bag tied around a walking staff complete the attire of a hobo.
The photographic journey that follows presents several views of the completed and painted hobo. The last four photographs show the beginning stages of carving a hobo with guidelines drawn to show where the hobo is inside the block of basswood along with the completed carved and painted hobo. Notice that the hat and head have been carved to basic form which allows for the remaining portion of the block to be divided by the Rule of Three of Body Proportions (shoulder to waist; waist to mid knees; mid knees to bottom of feet). Within these proportional divisions the arms, legs, coat tail and shoes can be drawn to coincide with the posture and stance of the hobo figure. Read the rest of this entry »
Hobo Chance is the latest version of a hobo who in this case is wearing suspenders, sometimes called “braces” but is still an interesting character to study. Next row of photographs will be Whittle Dwarfs who are carved out of inch square by an inch and half block of basswood and finished with Howard Feed N Wax. And finally there is a photograph of knife blade covers to round out this edition of “Bits and Pieces.” Read the rest of this entry »
Spocane Tommy follows the tradition of all hobos as being a traveling man. Hobos were originally itinerant farm laborers who traveled the country side carrying their hoe and their goods wrapped up in a bindle bag. These “hoe boys” became “hobos” who traveled to look for work wherever they could find a job. Read the rest of this entry »
The Helvie Hobo was carved for Rich and Holli Smithson who are owners and manufacturers of Helvie Knives. They are producing a “Signature Knife” of my design of blade and handle shape. The hobo was carved exclusively with the “Signature Knife” in the photo. Their daughter Skylar likes to be included in collecting wood carvings. Skylar is all smiles with the snowwoman gift by the WOOD BEE CARVER and the Santa by Will Hayden. Read the rest of this entry »