This carving project is the carving of two Calvary soldiers, one is nine inches tall by three inches by two inches while the second is six inches tall by two inches square blocks of basswood.

The phrase “SHAPE UP” means to develop, take form, become structured, reform and improve. On a personal level it can mean to improve one’s behavior or performance to meet a required standard.  The Wood Bee Carver uses it to refer to the wood carving process in the Whittle-Carving style of knife carving ~ as in ~ “SHAPE UP the carving project to its basic form to be in SHAPE with a good foundation in order to SHAPE UP the form with detailed slicing cuts to a Detailed shape.”  For the Carver ~ “SHAPE UP means to improve one’s skill by carving as often as possible in order to learn by doing and expand one’s imagination to guide the carving process to reach a standard of being the best carver within one’s ability.”  SHAPE UP is to remember “The more one carves, the better one carves,” and “Practice make progress.”

The first “Shape Up” step is to do mental research to get to know the subject in order to develop the imaginary image to be carved in the block of wood. It is this imaginary image that will guide the Shape Up process of carving the basic form in developing stages that shapes up to the detailed image.  The photographs that will follow will offer a visual progression of this shaping up process that exposes the interpretation of the carving artist upon the subject. The first to be presented in the nine inch tall Calvary officer

The beginning shaping step is to carve away the corners of the square block to form a dowel shape in which the top of the hat will be shaped first and then the form of the head will be carved as going up into the hat.  Once the basic form of head is carved then the Rule of Three for Body Proportions are divided with horizontal lined drawn around the block at the top of shoulders, at the waist and mid knees.  Within these horizontal lines the body parts can be drawn as a rough guideline for the shaping up of the body.

The next series of photographs are of the progression of the Shape Up process as it moves closer to the detailed finishing.

The next series of photographs are of the steps for carving the letters “U S” on the belt buckle.  Carve the basic shape of the buckle and their draw a rectangular box for each letter. Next carve away the wood around each of the boxes. Nest draw a vertical line down the left box to form a “U” and then two horizontal lines in the right box to form a “S”. Next carve away the center vertical line of the “U” and then carve away horizontal lines of the “S”.  Finally, stipple the background around the “U” and “S” using an awl or ice pick to press indentations into the surface. Apple super glue to the buckle so that the letters and stippling will remain secure.

The same “Shape Up” steps are used to carve the six inch tall Calvary soldier who is wearing a Kepi cap and his rifle hangs at his side as it is attached to a toggle clip attached to a leather belt across his shoulder and chest. The series of photographs that follow show the progressive development of the shaping up process.

The last three photos above are reference study for the way a rifle was hung on a shoulder to waist belt connected with a toggle clasp.  This allowed the soldier while riding his horse to have easy access to his rifle always ready at his side.

In order to view a gallery of these finished carvings which were finished using artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil and Deft click on “Send in the Calvary GALLERY”