Three wood carvers who have been my mentors in carving ever since I first heard and read about them, even before I met them, are Ivan Denton, Peter Engler and Harold Enlow.  Combined, these three have perhaps influenced more people to discover the wonderful world of wood carving than any other combination of woodcarvers.

Ivan Denton begin to supplement his living through wood carving in the early 1950’s and steadily advanced into an artist of Western themes making carving his life’s passion and livelihood.  Many of Ivan’s earlier carvings were purchased by Peter Engler’s mother, who operated an Ozark gift shop specializing in carvings and crafts.  Peter carried on the family tradition opening newer and better wood carving related retail outlets.  In the early 1960’s Harold Enlow became associated with Peter Engler as a featured carver in one of Engler’s operations.  All three of these mentors are intricately intertwined in  the wood carving experience.

Ivan served as my inspiration and mentor-ship ever since I read and re-read the National Geographic article about Ivan and his family.  I did not meet Ivan until 1993 when he invited me to visit him and his wife Rose in their mountain cabin and then in 1995 I was privileged to take a class from him at the War Eagle Seminars.  For several Seminars in subsequent years at War Eagle my wife Frances and I listened to his singing and guitar playing, his down to earth philosophy as well as marveling at each of his carving creations.  We were fortunate to purchase his walnut miniature buffalo carving that remains a cherished memento of our friendship.

Peter Engler hosts a vast collection of Ivan Denton carvings in his Peter Engler Designs shop in Branson, Missouri in the Grand Village.  Following in his mother’s tradition of encouraging budding carvers, Peter not only has been a benefactor for Ivan Denton but for a legion of other carvers for over fifty years.  When Silver Dollar City was just beginning around 1960, Peter was right there with his Mountain Woodcarvers shop inside Silver Dollar City and was instrumental in promoting the Fall Crafts Show.  For a time he also had Mountain Woodcarvers shop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Next came Wilderness Clock Works in Reeds Spring, MO and then Engler’s Block which was an upscale crafts’ mall in Branson.  Following recovery from cancer, Peter opened his current mecca for woodcarving in the Grand Village in Branson called Peter Engler Designs.

A visit to Peter Engler Designs is like entering into a wood carving museum to see Peter’s private collection, many of which are for sale along with his Santa carvings.  Peter has consistently been a source of encouragement to budding woodcarvers, mentoring many in their early carving careers, giving many their start through employment and purchasing early pieces of budding carvers who became better because Peter invested in their potential.

Many well known carvers as well as those just starting out have been honored by Peter who would purchase their carvings, place them on display in his shop and give that much needed push of encouragement.

It was not until 1996 that I first met Peter even though I had read and heard about his contributions to the wood carving world for years.  He was a silent mentor to me and upon meeting him it was like I was his long lost friend.  Right away he wanted to see my carvings and almost as quick wanted to purchase “this one and this one and this one and this one” without questioning the cost.  On subsequent visits he would honor me over and over again with more purchases and placing my carvings in  a prominent location.

One of the early employees of Peter Engler was Harold Enlow in the early 1960’s at Mountain Woodcarvers inside Silver Dollar City.  Harold would move on to be the resident featured carver at a new theme park, the former Dog Patch Theme Park near Harrison, Arkansas.  In the mid 1970’s Harold begin publishing how-to carving books and begin his teaching career with the War Eagle Seminars.  Thus began the long tenure of influencing countless numbers of woodcarvers and becoming a household name in woodcarving as he would teach over thirty seminars a year all over the United States.  Like Ivan and Peter, Harold was another silent mentor whom I read about in Chip Chats, read his books and heard of his reputation as a master teacher of wood carving.  It was not until 1994 that I first met Harold at the War Eagle Seminars learning countless lessons and appreciating his and Elaine’s friendship ever since.

These photographs are of Harold teaching at War Eagle Seminars on different years.  His classes were always full and his stories backed up with his boyish and wry smile made for a fun as well as instructional class.  Harold has probably enfluenced more people to carve than any other carving teacher.Harold invested most of his time to teaching others to carve.  The carving he did was primarily to create another teaching rough-out as he seldom would carve a carving to sell.  Harold is a generous soul and would often give or donate his carvings.

The cow licking its hoof was such gift of generosity that he gave to me, a gift of friendship cherished with fond memoies.  Once I carved something to commenorate his birthday and he had to return the favor with one of his carved palm tool handles.

Many wood carving friends are and have been my mentors because I learn so much from each carving friend and will continue to do so.  That is what makes wood carving such a wonderful journey with all the memorable people one meets.  Such friendships are mentoring experiences.   Even though Ivan, Peter and Harold receive my gratitude, yet I am appreciative of all carving friends for the gifts of learning, inspiration and friendship that come my way on this journey called “wood carving.”  THANK YOU!