The SIDE KICK Signature Series Knives were designed to be a combination slicing knife in three sizes for roughing out the basic form of a carving subject.  Since the WOOD BEE CARVER carves using a block of wood rather than a sawed out blank or machined rough out, a multiple purpose carving knife is very versatile in shaping the basic form. The subject used in this illustration is of Joseph, the carpenter carved in a block of basswood nine inches tall, three inches wide and two inches thick. The photo on the top right shows the completed carving beside the basswood block to be carved in the roughing out stage using the larger SIDE KICK. Read the rest of this entry »

Eight Students of the River Valley Wood Carving club participated in a three-day class entitled “The A-B-C’s of Face Carving” on November 2, 3 and 4, 2016. The students pictured in the photo above are (first row ~ left to right) Donna Waller, Barry Penningtgon, Charlie Brown, Dick Middleton (second row ~ left to right) Ed Handy, Gwen Provins, Lee Dryer and Bill Wright. Read the rest of this entry »

Pumpkin Faces carved in basswood block measuring 1 and 3/4 inch by 1 and 1/2 inch by 1/2-inch-thick using the new SUPER BEE #28  WOOD BEE CARVER ~ Signature Series Knife made by HELVIE KNIVES. The progressive steps show the various stages in developing the major landmarks of opening up the face to receive the detail carving. The curved cutting edge of the SUPER BEE knife allows for slicing cuts to make distinctive and deep details with a slice and roll action. Artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil was used to color each pumpkin jewelry pin. Read the rest of this entry »

HELVIE KNIVES introduces the SUPER BEE Signature Series Knife, the latest Wood Bee Carver Signature Knife (photo on left above).  The SUPER BEE (#28) (middle of photo above on Right) is the medium blade size version of the basic scimitar blade design by the Wood Bee Carver as in the earlier TWO BEE (# 2)  (bottom of photo) and the BEE FOUR (# 4)  (top of photo.) The SUPER BEE comes in a pistol shaped handle of walnut wood with logo and names wood burned by Rich Smithson, owner and operator of HELVIE KNIVES. Read the rest of this entry »

“Inside the Block” is a depiction of a common carving saying that says, “Inside every block of wood is a carving waiting to come out.” The three examples presented in the photographic display were carved using only knives in the Whittle-Carving style of the WOOD BEE CARVER. Read the rest of this entry »

The Organ Grinder Man and his Monkey were carved for the “1930’s Street Scene” CCA book a few years ago.  It is a picture of an earlier time when street musicians would gather a crowd of passerby’s who would stop to listen to the music and delight in the antics of the monkey as he made his way through the crowd collecting coins in his cup. Life was simpler then and life was hard and yet there was always a bit of music and monkey shines to take the hard edge off one’s troubles.  As you view the Organ Grinder and Monkey in these photographs below may you hear the music and dance with the monkey on the street corner of your mind. Read the rest of this entry »

Old men of the sea are often called “Old Sea Captain” or “Old Salt” as a way of romanticizing those rugged old timers who have salt running through their veins, an eye on the distant horizon and a memory of past adventure.  These three carvings of Old Salts are a study as to using a pose and posture to tell a different story of a similar subject.  All three are wearing the same basic clothing, the same curved smoking pipe and the same style of beard.  What makes each different from the other two is the positions of their hands. Read the rest of this entry »