The WOOD BEE CARVER has long advocated that when a carver finished carving one subject, turn around and carve it again and again and again.  Each time a subject is carved again the carver’s creative subconscious will guide in the carving with innovations in design and subtle differences.  Every carving is a learning experience and the more one carves the better one carves in the repetitive process of practicing the art of carving.  The four Hobbits pictured in this study illustrate the results of learning by repetition as well as each carving project is fun to do.

One of the hobbits received only a one color finish to show the comparison between monochrome and polychrome coloring scheme. The one color or monochrome illustrated that “texture is color” in that the texture results of the carving knife presents one interpretation of color.  The polychrome or multi-colors of the painted hobbits tend to emphasis the color more than the texture even though all four hobbits have the same texture result of the carving knife.  Artist oil paints mixed with boiled linseed oil is the coloration process used as described in the “Painting Softly” tutorial listed in the BEE HIVE box to the right of the blog postings.

Three knives were used exclusively in carving the hobbits.  All are Helvie Knives of the WOOD BEE CARVER signature series.  In the two knives photo the one on the left is the Hornet BEE or # 10 and the one on the right is the Cuckoo BEE or # 12.  In the one knife photo, the knife is a Honey BEE or # 7.  Each knife used the “slice and roll” method of shaping the wood in the three inch tall by and inch and half square block of basswood.  Delicate slicing cuts were used to carve faces in two of the crooked walking sticks to introduce a serendipity discovery into the carving.  It is those little added details that add interest to any carving.  That is what results by allowing the creative subconscious to guide in the creation of repetitive carved subjects. As the Old Carver sez, “Keep carving and carving will keep you carving.”