221. Carvers you should know. Janusz Wedzicha.
New carver, same thought thread. These three pictures fit comments I made about some of Ryan Olsen’s work in post 216. The carver here is Janusz Wedzicha. As far as I can tell he is Polish. Some of his information is at the site added below.
Let me repeat my thinking. There is so much good carving out there. But what attracts me to Wedzicha’s and Olsen’s work is the joy of life seen in many of the faces they produce. Evil, angry, sly, pained, crying faces have such potential for the dramatic. Lines, shadows, texture, emotion can be found there. However, for me, life is filled with such things to my dismay, discouragement, or defeat. Why put it into art? What is uplifting about a face in agony or horror? I prefer faces similar to what is shown below. Nice job, Janusz.
Shalom.
https://m.facebook.com/rzezba.w.drewnie/
“Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.” Prov 20:15
216 Carvers to Know. Ryan Olsen, caricature carver.
Name a wood carver who influenced you? Harold Enlow, Phil Bishop, Peter Ortel, Jim Leighton, to name a few of mine. Let me add another who might be worth a look, Ryan Olsen. I have not had him as a teacher, nor do I know much about him other than he is a sitting member in the Caricature Carvers of America. (www.cca-carvers.org/cca-members.html) The reason I mention him is found in the picture attached here.
Smiles, or at least not aggression or pain or bleary-eyed or evil. Olsen, for most of what I see here, carves interesting faces. Faces with smiles or some expression other than what I call a negative. And that I like. This is not to take away from the talent, execution, quality of all the other fine caricature carvers out there. I’m just putting in a vote for more carvings with hope, joy, laughter, love, and a host of other great expressions humans have. What do you think?
Shalom.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Prov 17:22
184 Carvers worth knowing. Jim Redhawk.
We all learn. And we all pick up ideas or skills from others. One carver worth watching is Jim Redhawk. I have watched his video on an eagle. His presentation and instructions are easy to follow. He also does a really nice job on eyes. If that is an area of the face that challenges you, catch Jim’s video there too.
http://www.redhawkoriginals.com/carvingbook.html
Shalom.
“The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” Prov 12:27
John Klompmaker Carving 