Whittle Doodles are the carving a variety of faces and objects into a block of basswood using only knives. This version began as a six-inch-tall by three-inch square block. It was also personalized for a carving friend who is a pastor in North Carolina as will be seen on one side of the block. As a doodle, what is carved comes about in random imagination making each Whittle Doodle unique and one of a kind.
Whittle Doodles are doodling with a knife in a block of wood to carve a variety of subjects and themes as a demonstration of carvings done using only a knife. Whimsical in nature and yet a way to illustrate the art and practice of carving in a small and restricted area.
Whittle Doodle Block Heads 2 was carved in a basswood block measuring two inches square and seven eights inch tall. Eight heads were carver around the four sides with a skull carved in the center. Newly made OTHER KNIVES for Miniature Carving were used to carve each head at random times over a period of a few days. The time in between the actual carving was used to imagine what faces to carve next. This “imagination” time is an essential time for any carving project while following the “Imagination Rule: if it can be imagined it can be.”
The WOOD BEE CARVER has always been fascinated with the carving of faces by attempting to make each face have a personality of its own. This Whittle Doodle Block Heads carving was carved in a two-inch square by inch tall block of basswood.
The photo journey below around the two-inch square friendship cane carved segment is a Whittle Doodle carved for the Buckeye Round Up on July 24, 25, 26, and 27,2019.
Whittle Doodles are doodling with a knife in a block of wood to carve a variety of subjects and themes as a demonstration of carvings done using only a knife. Whimsical in nature and yet a way to illustrate the art and practice of carving in a small and restricted area. This Whittle Doodle was carved using two experimental knives whose design is being tested. The basswood block measures two-inch square by three inches tall. Artist oil paint color raw sienna was mixed with boiled linseed oil for the colored stain which was followed with a coat of Deft brushing lacquer. Read the rest of this entry »
“Inside the Block” is a depiction of a common carving saying that says, “Inside every block of wood is a carving waiting to come out.” The three examples presented in the photographic display were carved using only knives in the Whittle-Carving style of the WOOD BEE CARVER. Read the rest of this entry »
Rich Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES created a commemorative knife for the Artistry in Wood Show ~ September 3 and 4 at the Roberts Centre, Wilmington, OH ~ to be raffled off at the Dayton Carvers Guild table during the show. The WOOD BEE CARVER carved a Whittle Doodle to become the knife blade holder to go with the special knife. Read the rest of this entry »