“The more one carves the better one carves,” is part of the learning journey of woodcarving.   The two photographs are of an early version of Lone Wolf that was the subject of a previous post in early 2008. https://woodbeecarver.com/?p=192 It was whittle-carved using only a knife out of a one and half inch square by six inches tall block of basswood.  It was colored using the Painting Softly method of artist oil paint mixed with boiled linseed oil.  It was based on earlier versions of the same pose carved several times out of a smaller piece of basswood.

This  version of Lone Wolf was whittle-carved using only a knife as a continuing journey of “learning by doing” in the carving process.  While the basic pose was the same as previous versions yet there were learning changes.  Braided hair was carved to enhance the flowing hair.  Wood burning was employed to add contrast and decorative designs in various places.  Lone Wolf was stained with raw sienna artist oil paint color mixed with linseed oil to allow the carving cuts do the coloring because “texture is color.” This Lone Wolf was the subject of another posting about carving to form and then carving the details to finish the carving process.  https://woodbeecarver.com/?m=20080517

The Journey continues this time using traditional carving tools rather than only a knife.  In these two photographs three of the gouge vee tools made by Denny Tools have been used to carve Lone Wolf to this basic shape.  The other tools used but not photographed were Drake gouges and vee tools. The same basic pose is being utilized to carve this Native American out of an inch and half square by six inch tall basswood block.

The next series of photographs tell their own story as they are studied showing the completed Lone Wolf who has received wood burning enhancements and a natural stain of raw sienna color and boiled linseed oil to let the carving speak for itself.

These four views of the full figure of Lone Wolf gives an overall and all around view.  The wood burning treatment was employed to add some contrast and decorative treatment to enhance the natural finish.  A natural finish was chosen to allow the carving cuts and facets to speak for themselves.  In many ways “texture is color” and while painted carvings speak in another language, a natural finish says in essence, “Take a close look.”

These close up views of Lone Wolf allow for comparative study of the facial features, braided hair, feather head dress, and ornamentations.  Wood burning adds just enough of a contrast to highlight the natural finish.

Lone Wolf will be carved several more times on the “carving journey” because every carving project is another step in the learning process.  Even though it may be the same subject,  each time there is something that can be added or changed because the creative process is processing each as a new carving project with its own lessons to learn.

“The more one carves the better one carves,” is the experience of  “Woodcarving is the journey more than the destination.” The  journey never ends for as one carving project comes to its completion the creative process is already at work in the sub conscious inviting the carver on another journey.  Travel the journey as if for the first time.

“Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood.”