206 Carving in the Round. Caricature. Banana Hat.
Tom Wolfe. I believe his book is the origin of this carving design. It was an enjoyable piece to work on. When completed it would hang on a banana hook on a shelf or mantel. It could also be interesting to be on a counter next to the banana bowl or a second banana hook.
The banana hat is interesting. But the eyes are the attracting point for me. It is basswood, 4x4x12. Folk Art paint watered down 15 to 1. Sprayed with urethane, dripped in dark stain and then respirated.
Of course, I can see many things to change, but that is another story. What would you change?
Shalom.
“Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” Prov 15:31
204 Cottonwood bark. Sailor/Sea Captain.
Trying to add pictures to this blog in a new way. Not sure if it will work.
The piece is a sailor/sea captain in cottonwood bark. I really like the size of this carving. Also, the overall look and “feel” is right. I imagine him on the Grand Banks, ala Rudyard Kipling’s “Captains Courageous” story. Have you seen Spencer Tracey in the movie?(Movie okay, book far better)
The color of the bark gives the figure a sun-bronzed look. Perfect for a weathered sailor. The white beard and hair catch some of the white flecks in untouched bark. An enjoyable piece to carve.
Shalom.
“A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!” Prov 15:23
203. Carving in the round. Square Father Christmas.
Well, perhaps not completely round. It is a unique piece, nonetheless. A change from all the round, rolly polly figures one sees.
The layout for this carving took longer than the actual carving. I do like the formal effect that the straight lines and symmetrical shapes give to the piece. I also like the shadows created by the gouge lines in the hair and beard.
Hope you are enjoying your hobby too.
Shalom.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Prov 15:22
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
199. Wood work from other places, China. Boxes.
In the ages before plastic, glass, and cheap metals, where did one store food stuffs, how did you measure grains? Wood. Here a box crafted for mundane, everyday purposes. And yet, pre-industrial times gave one a chance to add a personal touch.
I like the craftsmanship and the decorations here. One can only image the process, the labor over long hours as the craftsman search for wood, cut slabs and lengths, seasoned the wood, planned the design, cut out and assembled pieces, and finally painted and decorated the piece.
Shalom.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
“The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.” Prov 15:7
198 A carver to know – Fred Cogelow.
There are many ways to learn carving, to be inspired to carve better. One is to study the work of other carvers. And one carver worth studying is Fred Cogelow.
The images included here were taken from Pinterest. There are many more for you to view there.
Shalom.
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” Prov 16:16
197 To market, to market. Variety needed.
One of the things I like about a hobby is that you can choose what you want to do or make. Creativity is a key word.
Here is another picture of carved pieces which have gone into a sale. House – some painted some not, lighthouses – some painted and some not, and faces make up part of the variety. But within each group these is even greater choice and variety when one considers size, shape, background, coloration, substructure. All must be decided, created. That is part of the reason I love carving.
What draws you to your hobby?
Shalom,
“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” Prov 15:5
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
194. Trees.
One of the reasons I love to carve is that I get to carve wood. Wood comes from trees. And trees, well, trees are something special in the creation around us.
Think of all the stories you know, written, filmed, put into poetry, even sung about. Look around you at all the things made from trees. Remember all the youthful activities done in and around trees. Recall all the beautiful objects made from trees. No wonder they are special.
Below is someone else’s collection of beautiful pictures of trees and a sample of those pictures. Worth taking a look.
Shalom.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Prov 15:1
193 Carving in the Round. Basswood Golfer.
We ran out of time in the U.S. All our bags and boxes had to be packed. That included unfinished carvings, carvings knives, bases, brushes and paints.
Here, another unfinished carving but cute anyway. One of the benefits of putting such pieces away is the opportunity of reflecting on what comes next. Among finishing details to consider – paint colors, golf club – bent or unbent, base.
What kind of base would he belong on? Shape of base – round like golf hole or shaped like a trap? Putting green or tee off? Water hazard or sand bunker? Ball on edge of hole? Tee and ball only inches away? Does the shirt have a monogram? Are the shorts plaid or plain? Saddle shoes? Hair color?
Is the golfer a loud mouth fool or just a loud mouth? Is he laughing or crying? Perhaps these decisions will get made next summer.
Shalom.
“A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.” Prov 14:3
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
190 Carving in the Round. Big Red
This project is seen here in photos of photos, thus the weak picture quality. It is one of the larger pieces I have done and is part of a private collection in Michigan.
It is a solid block of basswood approximately 15 x 12x 10. I give the dimensions because so much of the work was measuring, cross checking and re-measuring to get a close replica of Big Red. While I did enjoy creating this piece, the measuring and careful rechecking rank right there with sanding near the bottom of my carving tasks list of things to do.
Big Red? Yes, the Holland, Michigan lighthouse at the entrance where Lake Macatawa empties into Lake Michigan at Holland. The carving was done in a red wash while the real lighthouse is a deeper red. Compare the two photos of the l lighthouse in different weather and lighting.
Hope your projects are going well.
Shalom.
“An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.” Prov 14:5
189 To market, to market to sell…Carvings to sell.
Carvings shown here will be offered for sale by a friend of ours back in the States while we reside here in Beijing.
The first picture shows an array of bark pieces, houses, churches, and a light house/sailboat. It shows the kind of variety I try to have at a sale. For me, this is a combination of what I like and what kinds of pieces have sold in the past, always a marketing challenge.
The second shows event more variety. Here a larger lighthouse, a book carved out of white pine, a sparrow and a related verse from the Bible, and a basswood relief of a recognizable viking.
What would you consider a good variety for a sale? How many carvings would you bring? How do you go about pricing your pieces?
Shalom.
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” Prov 14:8
188 Carving Basswood in the round. Whales and tails.
Basswood is still a wood of choice. It works well, holds detail, and paints beautifully.
This whale will get painted, once we return to the States next summer. Then it will be mounted on Lake Michigan driftwood. A challenge in this carving was the tail. If you look closely at pictures four and five you will see faint black lines running through the piece. Most easily seen in the fin in picture four. These are cracks in the rough out. While much of the cracking could be cut out for the rough out, the made it necessary to position the tail as low in the block as possible. So, our whale will be diving over the front edge of a piece of driftwood to show off its gimpy left tail fluke and add motion to the carving as a whole.
How do you recover from project challenges?
Shalom.
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” Prov 13:24
186 Carving in the Round. Aye, aye, captain.
The sea captain, along with several other carvings which will be shown in the near future, are unfinished because I have run out of timeout to our move to China. They will be shown unpainted now. Perhaps, when we return to the States they will be completed.
Nevertheless, I like him. He is made out of basswood and stands about six inches tall. One feature which stands out for me is his smile. I also like the texture of his beard.
Shalom.
“Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.” Prov 13:13
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
182 White pine project. Snow, ants, and memories of “Frosty”
The carving shown here is a work in progress. It is made out of aged white pine. One of the neat features is the insect trails left in the wood, most likely made by carpenter ants. One goal for the piece was to save as much of the insect “carved” wood while creating the carving.
A challenge with pine is to carve across the grain without splintering or tearing while trying for a smooth cut surface. That gets more difficult as the detail gets smaller. This snowman will eventually be finished with a little paint to the hat, scarf, gloves, nose and facial features. Natural pine coloration will be the “snow”. Any suggested colors?
Shalom.
“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Prov 13:3
179 Displaying work. Wind, waves, sand and driftwood.
The beauty of sun soaked, water washed, wind worried, and sand scoured wood makes driftwood pieces fascinating. Here a piece of pine mounted on cedar with a dowel. I love the flow of the piece, the contrasting smooth and rough surfaces, and the variety of color. What is there not to like?
Shalom.
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Prov 12:25
John Klompmaker Carving 