WHITTLE DWARFS are whittle (small) whimsical carvings adapted from the magical art world of my good friend Don Stephenson. His drawings of three Dwarf Wizards serve as a backdrop in the photograph of the two Whittle-Carved Whittle Dwarfs. Whittle Dwarfs began as a one and three quarter inch tall by one inch square block of basswood and are whittled into the basic form of Don Stephenson’s drawings. There eyes are covered by their head covering reminiscent of Don Worley’s “No See-Ums” face creations. These Whittle Dwarfs are fun to carve, cute to have sitting around on a table or shelf, lend themselves to whimsical imagination and utilize those little scraps of wood that are too good to throw away.
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The WHITTLE FOLK ART certificate serves also as an educational tool for classes that the WOOD BEE CARVER teaches. Whittle-Carving is carving only with a knife as an exercise in one of the most common forms of Folk Art. The certificate states the Motto of the WOOD BEE CARVER as “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood.” Next comes the WOOD BEE CARVER’S Rules of one line lessons that are extremely important to the practice of Whittle-Carving. The first four deal with the importance of “slicing with the cutting edge” as being the most efficient cut with a knife (as it is with any carving tool). The other sayings on the certificate hold significant meaning worth thinking about, but for this posting the central theme is that of learning to “slice with the cutting edge,” as often as possible. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by: woodbeecarver in Knives
Rich and Holli Smithson, owners and manufacturers of HELVIE KNIVES are known primarily for their quality carving knives and their unique basswood handled knives that can be used to carve one’s own design into the handle. What is not well known is that Rich is also an artist at heart who sometimes creates beautiful wood burned and painted designs and scenes on handles of HELVIE KNIVES. Rich and Holli have graciously given me permission to post some of his artist creations so that others can appreciate another art form. The gallery of knives that follow can be seen in a larger format by clicking on each photograph. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by: woodbeecarver in Hobos
Hobos have a nostalgic appeal of an earlier time when itinerant labors traveled the country looking for work. Their clothes were torn, tattered and well worn while their faces were road mapped with heavy road weary lines of a hard way of life. The Four Hobos in the picture on the left are carved caricatures whose names are left to right: Suds Larry, Soup Bone, Gunny Sack and Sulky Sal.
In spite of it all there was something romantic about these knights of the road that gave a wanderlust appearance of an easy go lucky way of life while there was none in reality.
A Hobo would travel looking for work while a Tramp simply traveled not looking for work and a Bum would neither travel nor look for work possessing only a hard luck story to con easy money. The Hobo was the “common stiff” who was somebody’s friend, acquaintance or relative who showed up from time to time of itinerant travels following news of the next job. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by: woodbeecarver in Noggins
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BITS AND PIECES are carvings that are done to replenish the supply of novelty carvings for display at woodcarving shows and the occasional spur-of-the-moment carving just for the fun of it. The first three photographs are of Tree Noggins carved out of basswood tree limbs using only a knife. The carved faces are finished with a coat of Howard Wax-N-Feed. The fourth photograph above is of Pin Heads carved out of Doll Pins purchased at Hobby Lobby to resemble the old wooden clothes pin. Pin Heads are carved with only a knife and finished with Howard Wax-N-Feed.
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Rich and Holli Smithson, owners and manufacturers of HELVIE KNIVES of Tipton, Indiana have a growing collection of carved basswood handled Helvie Knives. Basswood handles on Helvie Knives suitable for carving have been a staple among the many popular knives offered in their inventory. Carvers from around the country have submitted their creations to add to this collection and Rich and Holli have granted me permission to post photographs of their collection. This is in addition to the Caricature Carvers of America collection of carved handles as depicted in a previous posting. Take a photographic journey to see this marvelous collection of creative and unique carved knife handles.
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Bonnie and Don Worley are pictured at their carving display table at the recent Middletown, Ohio, Miami Valley Woodcarving Show, March 5 and 6, 2011. Don is the creator and instructor of the ever popular No See-Ums which are seen displayed on the left corner of the table in the photograph. Additional photographs below show close ups of the No See-Ums (some with eyes) and by clicking on each photo they can be enlarged slightly for a closer look. Clicking on Don’s name above will bring up a previous posting of No See-ums which are fun to carve and once begun become very addictive to carve a few more. Don is also chairman of the world renowned Artistry in Wood Show in Dayton which will celebrate its 30th year this November 12 and 13. Thank you Don for your many gifts to the woodcarving family and especially for creating No See-Ums. Read the rest of this entry »
Hobbit characters have been popular ever since they first appeared in the writing of Tolkien and subsequent movies. A friend commissioned a carving of a Hobbit which was a new subject for this carver. So the research process that follows the initial idea for a carver began by first going to the Internet research box like Google, Yahoo and Bing. When doing such research always add the word “images” following the subject being researched in order to go to a site dedicated to innumerable images. Next step was to contact my IDEA MONSTER, Don Stephenson who knows about a lot of subjects that he can draw on a sketch pad. He drew up several examples of Hobbits on paper, then drew a Hobbit on the note he included with the drawings, then drew a Hobbit on the cardboard insert for support in the envelope and finally drew a Hobbit on the shipping envelope. Photographs of his drawings are displayed below. Read the rest of this entry »
