“A one tracked mind,” implies that a person is overly committed to only one main pursuit that consumes one’s energy, thinking and motivation. Life on the “one track” can be very exhausting, time consuming and misses smelling the roses along the way. The wisdom in the old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” is comparable to having a “one track mind.” Having a well-rounded approach with varied experiences can open up the door to a creative personality of becoming the best we can be. The creative power of a hobby like wood carving can widen the horizon of beauty in one’s life and purpose.
Whittle Doodles are doodling with a knife in a block of wood to carve a variety of subjects and themes as a demonstration of carvings done using only a knife. Whimsical in nature and yet a way to illustrate the art and practice of carving in a small and restricted area.
A commissioned carving project of a carpenter nonchalantly holding his hammer while tapping its head into the palm of his other hand is carved out of a seven-inch-tall block of basswood with the words “HAVE HAMMER ~ WILL TRAVEL” incised into the base of the carving.
Carve along with Don Worley by using his simple follow-along trail of photographs and landmark descriptions for carving Cowboy Dude refrigerator magnets.
Don said of the four photos above ~ “I carved two 2″ X 3″ blocks to be part of the Buckeye Roundup auction. One has 2 Fireman and the other has 2 Cowboys. I used the same face carving techniques as in my Carving Biker Dudes book. After carving some Cowboys I used the same pattern and carved the Fireman.”
HALF PINT MINIATURE CARVINGS are three-inch-tall figures carved in the Whittle-Carving style of the Wood Bee Carver using only knives to carve these figures. Miniatures are commonly defined as a carving that will fit into a two-inch cube. Three-inch miniature is the classification used by the Affiliated Wood Carvers Association at the International Woodcarvers Congress competition. “Half Pint” uses the half inch scale of a half inch equals a foot which makes “Half Pint” proportionally equal to half of the average height of six feet tall humans.
UNCLE SAM carved in 2008 ~ six inches tall and inch and half square base, carved in the Whittle-Carving style of using only a knife. Finish is Artist Oil Paint thinned with boiled linseed oil and final coat of Deft.
UNCLE SAM carved in 2007 in the Whittle-Carving style of using only a knife ~ four inches tall and an inch square base. Finish is Artist Oil Paint thinned with boiled linseed oil and final coat of Deft.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ~ JULY 4, 2020
Mark Akers of Lexington, SC is a carving friend spanning several years who has developed a unique style of carving that is his signature. Professionally he is known as “KarolinaKarver” and has his carvings posted for sale on “Etsy- KarolinaKarver.” Mark has published several articles in Woodcarving Illustrated and has taught at the Renegade Round Up in Lebanon, TN a few times and will teach again there this October.