Free Hand Carving is carvings done with a knife in the style of “Whittle Doodle” carvings that simply carve various subjects and designs into a piece of wood.  The first example is a Denny V Gouge made especially with a basswood handle for the purpose of carving the handle.  This Free Hand Carving was done for Wayne Shinlever.  Once carved the handle was stained with artist oil raw sienna paint and boiled linseed oil followed with a coating of Deft.

The Helvie Knife Company has asked several carvers to carve something on the handle of one of their knives handled with basswood as a promotion for the variety of subjects that can be carved on a tool and knife handle.  Using the motif of “Whittle Doodles” carvings with a knife provided the various subjects carved into this Helvie Knife handle.  The handle was stainted with raw sienna artist oil paint and boiled linseed oil followed with a coat of Deft.

When Interim Pastor Nik completed his ministry with a local church, a walking stick made from a square yard stick was commissioned as an appreciation gift.  The Free Hand Carvings contained symbols of a Shepherd’s Staff, Christian Symbols and lettering containing the name and location of the church and the scripture phrase “Love One Another.” Of course the pastor’s name “NIK” was carved in a prominent place.  The basswood stick was stained with raw sienna artist oil paint and boiled linseed oil followed by a coat of Deft.

Free Hand Carvings knows no limits and only awaits the imagination of creativity and a sharp tool to capture that imagination into any piece of wood.  Like the Old Carver’s Law: “Leave no wood uncarved,” Free Hand Carving Law is: “Leave no idea uncarved.”