227. Tools of the trade. Two small Chinese knives.
If you love crafting, carving, wood working of any kind you’ve got to love tools. I doubt these two knives are for wood carving, but they are minor works of art in and of themselves. The bone handle and the small pieces of metal remind me that in a pre-industrial age tools were not that easy to come by. I love the personal touch of decoration on the wooden handle. How have you decorated or modified any of your tools?
Shalom.
“Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.” Proverbs 23:9
225. Wood from other places, China. Tiger maple box??
A friend has this stunning piece in her desk. She has often sat doing her lessons looking at its exciting and interesting color and pattern. It’s symmetry and delicate beauty is attractive. Again, one is thrilled with the careful craftsmanship it took to produce such a piece. How carefully are you working on your hobby? Your own work?
Shalom
“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” Prov 23:12
224. Cottonwood bark. Rustic Cabin
I still like carving bark. This piece was finished early 2018. The richness of the coloring, the rugged feel of the uncut bark, the flow of stairs and arches, and the quaint cottage crowning the piece all add up to a pleasing presentation.
Pictures five and six, closeups, are included to give a better view of the cracked and creviced surface of bark. At times one has to glue chunks back on in order to maintain some of the work completed or the flow of a piece. At other times pieces fall off and one is forced to rethink design to the improvement of the final piece.
Shalom.
“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.” Prov 22:29
223. Practice what you preach. Questions not to ask, and other things not to say to crafters.
Have you heard that before? I have. And I have said it to many of my students and friends. That makes it all the harder to visit craftsmen and crafts women and not do the same silly or careless thing. Ask those questions all craftspeople always need to answer – what kind of wood (material) is that? Is that as easy to do as it looks? How long did that take. Is it your own idea or did you copy that? Below is another kind of list, things not to say.
But now comes the “judgment of charity.” I always need to remember the visitor is trying to reach out, trying to gain some kind of understanding or to initiate conversation in a world they don’t really understand. Be prepared for the silly(I can do that) to the mundane(What kind of…). Embrace the opening gambit. Play the “game” with joy and pleasure. Perhaps your kindness and acceptance will spark greater things.
Shalom.
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Prov 22:6
222. Bear-ly able to stand it. Table decorations in hotel.
Traveling this month. Unable to take carving equipment along. This set of bears, nicely done, fills the center of our hotel fruit and dessert table. Every day wishing I had tools and wood. Enjoying the work of others and drawing are good fallback positions.
Shalom.
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” Proverbs 22:3
213. Egghead. Sleeping Santa.
A fun afternoon project. The design began with a hesitation to attempt another set of eyes. Easy fix, cover the eyes with the hat. Many iterations later you have this piece.
What I like about it most is the hat. The brim and tassel were first outlined with a veiner. Then the green upper part is cut with large, flat strokes. The tassel results as the upper green is completed. The brim is rough cut as a wavy line. It is then textured with a small U-gouge. He looks happy and rested, ready for cookies and milk to come.
Shalom.
“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Prov 16:32
212. Relief Carving. Sailor in bark 1.2.
Here he is, completed. First cuts are in post 210. I remind you of one of my bark carving goals, keep enough bark visible to show that it isn’t a machine made piece and to give good contrast to the carved parts. The contrast adds interest and strengthens the piece.
Once the carving was finished it was painted with an acrylic paint wash, diluted about 15 drops of water to one drop of paint. That is, except for the white, which is put on nearly solid. The skin of the sailor is left natural bark color with a rose blush for a more weathered look.
I like this piece. It fits the wood block well. It also seems to sit well into the wood. One can almost imagine the uncarved bark as Grand Banks mist wrapping around this sailor from the “We’re Here.” Kipling might even have recognized him. (See post 210).
Shalom.
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Prov 16:24
211 Egg head. A Tartan Santa.
One of the joys of carving is the opportunity to try different things. This is an egghead. Many of these have been done. I have tried 500+. So why keep trying them? Variety within a field.
This head was an experiment in creating plaid. The covering could have been a traditional Santa hat painted plaid. But that didn’t seem enough. So the tam and the plaid make it. I think pitting the front edge of the tam nearly over the eyes also works. It creates a tension that helps the overall effect.
Shalom.
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Prov 16:28
210 Relief Carving. Sailor in bark 1.1.
Have I told you I like Rudyard Kipling’s story, “Captains Courageous. I think I have. But is such a good story, read it more than once. Actually maybe 10 times. This sailor is partly my imagination of what one of the sailors on the “We’re Here” would look like. No sword scar (if you recall the story), but a weathered, leathered look none the less.
Cottonwood bark. Shallow, or not much depth to the wood, so getting perspective can be tricky. The early stages he didn’t look so good. The final, painted version came out nicely. Here are six shots of the work in progress. Somewhere in the next posts I will show the finished work. Keep on crafting.
Shalom.
“The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” Prov 16:21
Work in Progress. A Wee Whale
Basswood whale in progress. It began as a block 6 x 3 x 3. If you have looked through previous posts you have seen larger whales, half whales, and whales on driftwood. This piece was an experiment in making it mini so it would fit on a smaller shelf or in a better way on a desk or end table.
I like the overall feel of the work. The markings, while perhaps not realistic, give some sense of the wrinkles and folds, the hard treatment a whale’s hide can get. It’s cute.
Work to be done? Painting. I like the light wash of color several of the other whales have. There is no strong grain here so color will add another layer of interest. I painted and earlier basswood piece a solid “whale” grey. Not sure if I really liked it. This one will get a wash. Finally, then, finding a piece of wood on which to mount it and the angle of the mounting. Suggestions? The finished piece may take a while to arrive since the whale in is Michigan and I am in China.
Shalom.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov 16:18
207 And to Think I Saw It On, well not Mulberry Street, but… Pear tree carver.
Tip of the hat to Dr. Seuss and his creativity. I, however, did see this carver who is the bicycle repair guy out the back, small, east gate (got to get all the adjectives in or you don’t get there from here) of my university campus, while walking the back alley.
Earlier I had seen wood chips and some tree branches around his cart. Then a few days ago I was with a Chinese student and could strike up a conversation. Later I went back with my bike and carving things. Carved while waiting for the bike to be repaired. A little bit of Chinese, a few words from a translator app, and common understanding of carving and a good time was had by all.
The pieces shown are branches of mountain pear. He is working on deer in both. He is using a power tool for the work. Hope you get a chance to walk your neighbor and meet those doing their hobby.
Shalom.
“Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Prov 15:32
202. Carving in the round. Friend/Indian/Native American/Ancient Invader/Neighbor?
It’s a carving. It isn’t a political statement. It isn’t intended to be demeaning or defaming. It is of an Indian/Native American/tribe member/one of any number of tribes. He is holding cigars. There was a connection between him and tobacco. His clothing and head piece are an attempt at catching what he may have worn four hundred years ago. His features may be a caricature, may have some resemblance of someone past or present.
It’s a carving. Well done? I like the face. The lines are clean and clear. The hands and feet fit the description of caricature, overly large, exaggerated. I also like the coloring of skin and lion cloth. Both came out satisfactorily.
It’s a carving. Some friends are holding a sale this month. Hoping this piece goes. How much would you offer for it?
Shalom.
“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Prov 15:18
201. Other art as ideas for carving. Or carving as inspiration for other art.
Where do you go to develop ideas for your art? I have a hope of translating some of my drawings into wood carvings. Or perhaps it is the other way around, carvings into drawings.
Either way, I love trees, mountains, seascapes, sunrise and moon rise. These give rise to scenes such as the drawings below. A friend gifted me a box of U brands pencils. In these pieces I used honey bee, nacho cheese, r u red e, dill with it, carmel latte, and lights out. And also an ultra fine Chinese black pen.
So many of you have looked at the pieces in this blog. Any critic or comment on these? Any suggestions for making them stronger?
Shalom.
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
Prov 15:17
200 What hobbies do you have? Carving and reading.
This is my 200th post. That should be something special. The picture below combines two of my favorite hobbies. One is obviously wood carving. The other is reading. What better thing to carve than books. (By the way, I just finished an excellent and informative book entitled, “China’s Examination Hell.”)
The books are carved from several different types of wood – white pine, basswood, and cedar. I enjoy trying to create pieces that look like old, leather-bound, well-loved books. Most are in private collections in Michigan.
Some day I may find time to tell you about other hobbies I have – learning foreign languages, collecting sand samples, drawing, propagating succulents. What hobbies do you have?
Shalom.
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Prov 15:13
196. From another culture, China. A long and prosperous life, perhaps.
When in China, look for Chinese art work, right. I would love to do such a carving in wood as seen in the bronze piece below. I would do so for the flow and beauty of the sculpture, leaving aside the religious meanings added to it. This was a garden sculpture now residing in our home.
A few quoted notes give context.
“…in China, the crane is the most popular bird symbolizing longevity and auspiciousness. The Chinese also embroidered cranes on their clothing and their images are seen in many ancient paintings as they also represent happiness and a soaring spirit, capturing the beautiful way it soars through the skies.”
“The tortoise is a symbol of longevity, with a potential lifespan of ten thousand years. Due to its longevity, a symbol of a turtle was often used during burials. A burial mound might be shaped like a turtle, and even called a ‘grave turtle.'”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_turtles
I suspect the following can also be said of Chinese pieces like this one.
“In Vietnamese culture, the turtle and crane each symbolize enduring power and longevity. The two, standing together, represent a healthy long life of happiness. … The crane on the back of the tortoise is the symbol of longevity, …”
https://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/tw/hanoi/aska/answers/qid/6022
Shalom.
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Prov 15:4
195 Wise and foolish speech. Resist temptation.
Have you tried to sell your art, craft, creations? If so, the list below will resonate. Got any more to add? I have always been tempted to keep an old carving knife and a block of wood handy at a sale so I can hand it to the person who claims one of these. Have thought better of it, but the temptation has been there.
The other temptation is a smart aleck comment or sarcastic retort. Have also refrained from said sly replies. Better for my soul and the outlook on the day. Most would be oblivious to such comments anyway.
Hoping your next sale goes well.
Shalom.
“The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” Prov 15:2
192 Carving in the Round. Not just Vegetables
Some of you will recognize the faces. Some of you will know these are eggplants. Many of you might know they are made out of basswood. Most of you will not know that these carvings were once considered scrap wood, salvaged out of a junk box.
In a way they make a strong statement to me about life, about the lives of many people. They are seen as scrap, the world sets them aside, considers them unimportant, value,es. And yet, in each is something beautiful. Can you imagine what our world would be like if we all found the beauty, the value, the spark in each person we meet. Imagine that as you work on your next project.
(In case you missed it, this is a tip of the hat to Veggie Tales and their creativity.)
Shalom.
“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Prov 13:10
191 Note to visitors. Greetings
I have always been intrigued by the location of all you who visit this blog. It would be an added pleasure to chat with some of you. It is a wonder of our world that we have the privilege of sharing with each other even over such great distances.
I have many questions for you all. What draws you to this blog? Are you wood carvers? Do you have other creative hobbies? Were you looking for something in particular in this blog? What in these posts benefits you? What else would you like to see, read, know? What do you know that you could share with me? And many more such questions.
A special greeting to visitors from Hong Kong. Nice to have you on board.
Shalom.
“The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.” Prov 14:15
187. Spotty posts for a while. Overseas internet a challenge.
Notice anything in the picture. Right, no carvings. This is in a royal garden of the Qing Dynasty in Beijing, China. I will be posting from here for most of the next two years. We will be looking for interesting carvings and even a few carvers while we teach and live here.
That said, posts may be spotty, as you may have noticed. Internet and Internet speed is not always as reliable as in other parts of the world. We will try our best. Meanwhile, do keep carving, drawing, painting, potting, knitting, or whatever creative avenue you use. Do it with joy and integrity. Perhaps even ask yourself where our creativity comes from.
Shalom.
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Prov 13:20
185 Carving presentation. Bird Mobile.
Another twist on wood carving. Mobile building.
This piece has Lake Michigan drift wood, Cottonwood bark, basswood, and butternut birds. The birds were carved first to be sold as individual pieces or Christmas ornaments. A relative liked the birds and suggested a mobile. Little did I know what that might involve.
First the type and number of birds were selected. A box full of driftwood was sorted through. Then all pieces were laid out to try to balance color and shape. Easy, right. Then the fun began. How to balance the entire mobile while allowing each part to turn or twist without interfering with other parts. I finally settled on a system of eye-hooks, fishline, paper lips, and rubber bands to temporarily hang birds to the main driftwood holder. This allowed the pieces to be moved easily while giving a chance to observe how they all moved.
That sounds a lot easier than it was. Taking one piece off caused the main stick to tip dumping all the other loose pieces on to the floor. Back to square one each time. At one point the goal seemed to be to balance all pieces so the central drift wood would be horizontal. Repeated resets resulted in the diagonal position in the picture, an improvement on the horizontal original.
Once a general idea of the positions was achieved eye-hooks were attached to the central drift wood and birds were attached in a semi-permanent way. In the end one of the little birds didn’t seem to have a place to hang, so it was superglued to the top right of the central piece. It’s location helped complete the balance.
Private collection, Michigan
Shalom.
“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Prov 13:3
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
183 Another kind of wood work. Ahoy there.
Did you know that when telephones first came out the first word to speak when receiving a call was, “Ahoy.” And that, while many of us speak of “jet lag”, the genesis of the term was “boat lag” in pre-flight days. All that to show you another way to do wood work.
This ocean liner was stand built one of my brothers. He has made several. I have memories of all the little bits of wood, knives, glue, and other materials spread over table tops. The bottom picture is of a ship, not boat, which he may be restoring. Wood work, creativity, patience, color and form, all part of a great hobby. What are you making out of wood.
Shalom.
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Prov 14:30
166. Woodwork from other places 19, China. Qîngzuò. Please sit down.
I know, it isn’t really wood carving. But, there is wood work done. This stool is more than 150 years old. It captures my attention for several reasons. First is the hand labor involved. Rounding the seat must have taken some time. Shaping the legs as well. Did you notice the slight curve to them. A nice detail. And then there is the work done to slot the legs into the seat, terrific.
A second reason to like this piece is the recycling done. The owner believes the seat was a wheel of some kind, hence the square hole in the top. The seat reminds me of ancient Chinese coins with their square or round holes so they could be threaded and carried on a string.
A third reason to like this stool is the character of the wood. Holes, unfinished edges, color, cracks, and growth rings make this an eye-pleasing object. What do you think?
Shalom.
“Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.” Prov 11:17
158 Woodwork from other places 17. Russian.
Okay, another one. There are many great wood carvers in Russia. Here are two small examples of the kind of relief carving they can produce. I am not at the level of detail you find in these pieces. But they do suggest to me or challenge me to go further in my work. What about you?
Shalom.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Prov 4:23
John Klompmaker Carving 