A “Tree Noggin” is the name of this style of Whittle-Carving using a basswood tree limb.  Carving through the bark to reveal the inner wood on this particular Tree Noggin revealed two colors of wood.  One half was honey brown and the other half was creamy white.  Basswood can be either color but seldom are the two colors combined in the same limb.  Definitely a “split personality.”

So in carving a face into the limb the curvature of the mouth on the dark side is a frown.  On the light side the mouth is a smile.  Looking at the face straight on, the mouth looks like a crooked and side way letter “S”.  Looking at the profiles in the next two photographs one can see the dark side and then the light side with special notice of the curvature of the mouth.

The dark side profile of the first photograph shows the mouth with a frown.  The light side profile shows the mouth with a grin.  This carving is an example for each of us to be aware that sometimes we may frown and other times we smile with a grin.

Remember that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.  Carvings help us to look on the light side of life.  This may be a clue to we carvers that the more we carve, the more fun we have and the more fun we have brings a grin to our inner being uniting any splits in personality.  So pull yourself together and smile at life and the discoveries that can be made under the bark or behind the frown.