The center focus of the Railroader with Lantern is the lantern. Of course, our eyes see the railroader’s face, his cap, his bandana hanging out a back pocket, but it is the light of the lantern that is held high to capture center stage.
There is an old story that says, “The TOOTH BRUSH was invented by a Red Neck ‘cause if it was invented by anyone else it would have been called TEETH BRUSH.” Humor like this is an invitation for carving a caricature which the Wood Bee Carver did twenty years ago. Now the same theme is used to do two interpretations of the “Inventor of the Tooth Brush.” One is wearing a mustard colored shirt and is bare footed and the other is wearing shoes and a bow tie but they both have the “one tooth” and a “Tooth Brush.” Read the rest of this entry »
5
Jun
REDUX CY CLONE
The first Cy Clone was carved in 2011 that was followed by carving the “Cloning of Cy” with stairstep clones from six inches tall down to miniature. Cy Clone is actually a variation of a nick name often given to a person who is quiet, never gets in a hurry, never excited and in a contemplative thoughtful appearance. Nick names are often given in direct opposite to the characteristic of the person receiving the nick name as in nick naming a heavy-set man by calling him “Tiny.” The chief characteristics of Cy Clone is his relaxed contemplative posture and his hands laced together behind him.
The Old Carver’s Knife Law:” One knife is dandy; two knives are handy and three knives are never enough.”
24
Apr
THE DUEL
The CLOWN tells the story without words using posture, facial expression, costume, props and elaborate gestures to tell the story in pantomime. One of the goals of wood carving is to create a visual pantomime carved in wood in which the carving tells a story without words. This carving of a clown holding a balloon and a feather is telling a story of a duel between the balloon and feather as to which one is the lightest. It is a silly story leaving the clown having a puzzled look on his face for not being able to figure out which one is lighter than the other.
This fireman is a “second time around” of carving a second fireman of similar design to the first Firehouse 3 Fireman.
22
Apr
FIRE HOUSE 3
“Firehouse 3” is a first attempt at carving a fireman figure. The beginning process is to imagine what a fireman looks like along with studying various images of carved firemen to come up with a preliminary design for a carving. The imaginary image includes the fireman’s helmet, bulky and heavy water-resistant coat and trousers along with heavy boots. Next would come equipment such as an axe, fire hose, megaphone, fire hydrant and ladder. Next comes the refining of all these elements into the simplest depiction that would say “this is a fireman.” The fireman’s helmet crowns the carved figure with the undeniable statement of identity while adding the fire axe and the heavy boots will add just enough to the overall outfit to distinguish the fireman effect. The red suspenders attached to the bulky trousers add to the effect of making the figure more interesting as it stands in a relaxed pose of either before and after suiting up for the fire run.
The Wood Bee Carver is primarily a “knife carver” who carves from a “Block” with corners and chooses to shape the wood with a “Slice into position and Design by carving.” Process.