These Civil War soldiers stand four and a half inches tall with a one inch square base.  Carved out of basswood using only a knife, these represent a carving style called “Whittle-Carving” to illustrate that one can sculpt with a knife.  The figures are colored using the “Painting Softly” process described under that same title under the section to the left called “Navigation.” Read the rest of this entry »

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL VENDOR is a play on the title of an old James Garner movie, “Support Your Local Sheriff.” The reason to support your local vendor is because of the labor of love these dedicated servants of woodcarving generously give to the woodcarving community.

Dick and Barb Belcher are in their thirty second year of providing a most valuable service through their Belcher Carving Supply. LLC.  They have available at several wood carving shows almost anything any carver would want and need and if they do not have it, they will make every effort to find what is requested.  Through their catalog,  email R1Belcher@aol.com or by phone 937-845-0346 Dick and Barb await the opportunity to be there for any carver’s needs. Read the rest of this entry »

PENCIL NOGGINS are carved faces on wooden pencils using slicing cuts with the tip end of a sharp knife.  Wooden pencils are normally made out of Western Cedar which tends to crumble when the knife blade is forced into the wood.  Thus it is necessary to make every cut a slicing cut.  Think of a slicing cut as when one slices bread off a loaf.  The cutting edge of a sharp knife is made up of little teeth very similar to the teeth on a hand saw.  A saw does its work when it is sliced through the wood. The most efficient cut with a knife is a slicing cut whereby the cutting edge is moving through the wood in a slicing action. Read the rest of this entry »

These two Scottish Golfers wearing kilts were carved as commission pieces.  One was a gift to a friend and the other was for the commissioner.  Each was carved out of basswood six inches tall by one and three quarter of an inch square using traditional carving tools.  The pose of each one is a challenge to carve legs crossed while leaning on a golf club, head turned slightly and other hand holding a pipe. The stripes to form the plaid effect were drawn first with a pencil to follow the contour  and folds of the kilt and then wood burned. Read the rest of this entry »

Santa is above everyone else in his concern about global warming as his North Pole home and gift making factory is in jeopardy.  Thus, Santa is going “Green” to be environmentally correct and to let the rest of us become aware that we are to be caretakers and responsible managers of the good green earth and blue sky of the atmosphere.  Santa teaching us about loving one another and giving gifts of happiness both of which can not be without taking care of the environment in our little corner of the world.  In this series of carved jewelry pins, Santa is wearing a Green cap to remind us to be “evergreen” ourselves. Read the rest of this entry »

“THOUGHT FOR FOOD” is a caricature carving of an unemployed professor using a play on words by reversing a familiar saying, “Food for Thought.” This carving depicts a “long in the face” professor who is out of work sitting on philosophy books and surrounded by philosophy books which contain the “Thought” that has shaped critical thinking through out the ages.  Read the rest of this entry »

“A BIRDIE” is a play on a golfing term for shooting one under par.  However, if one is unfamiliar with golf, the term “a birdie” is confusing in that there is no actual “bird” involved in golf unless the golfer accidentally hits a flying bird with a golf ball.  The humor depicted in this carving is the exaggeration of a birdie hatching out of a golf ball.  Read the rest of this entry »