The unique style of carvings created by Mark Akers are eye catching in their crispness of detail and whimsical signature as is evident in viewing the photo gallery below. “A picture is worth a thousand words,” so let each picture speak to you by studying each with an observant eye of creativity.
Gunny Sack Hobo was carved for Matt Altland who made a couple of knives for me through his knife making business Deep Holler Knives. Hobos were traveling labors who traveled from place to place is search for work and a better life. In their idle time many would pass the time by whittling and carving novelties to trade for food and necessities. The character of a hobo is a natural carving subject.
The Dragon Slayer Knife Cube is a holder for a knife whose blade is inserted into a slot in the top of the cube. The four sides and top in a three-inch cube of basswood is carved in a combination of relief carvings, chip carving and a simulated tattoo texturing.
Carving is an art form and art in its various forms is basically an “interpretation” of the imagination of the artist. Woody of Toy Story is a cartoon figure toy who became the subject carving project interpreting Woody as a caricature figure. In 2011 Jesse of Toy Story was carved as a caricature and now Woody has been carved to join Jesse as a caricature figure.
A good carving friend who brings a smile not only through his outgoing personality but also through his unique carving creations that mixes a little humor into his characters is being showcased in this photo display.
“Wood carving is the journey more than the destination,” is an observation made during the process of carving through the years. The “destination” represents the finished carving and the “journey” represents the process of the carving activity. It is this “journey” that brings the most joy of creating to the carver because once the project is completed the carver is anxious to begin another carving project to experience the journey.
Don Stephenson is a gifted artist with a creative mind and a generous spirit who recently drew carving ideas on the back of a mailing envelope. Four of these drawings became the inspiration for carving projects which were gifted by back to Don along with a Linus and Snoopy carving for his wife Peg.
An ORC is a mythical humanoid creature, generally described as brutish, aggressive and repulsive, stemming from the writings of J.R.R. Tolkiem, author of The Lord of the Rings. This carving of an ORC was carved in a seven-inch-tall by three-inch square block of basswood. The finish is artist oil paints mixed with boiled linseed oil and final coating of Deft.