Hitting the shop while at home

With the corona virus keeping us home more than normal I am out in the shop carving more than ever before. I am trying to push myself and not carve just what I am familiar with. I did sell a carving through Instagram, so I ordered more Bark to keep me stocked to carve. Thank you for the amazing bark from Western Canada Cottonwood Bark. I will be carving more today. I have a few new pics. My daughter is a photographer and took some wonderful shots. I will post them below.

I am also looking forward to classes online with an amazing carver Alec Lacasse. Alec is one of my instructors and a personal friend. Here is a free lesson Alec Posted, then go to his sight to sign up for his class information (Click here) If you can ever carve and learn from Alec, you will be blessed, as I have. He is a great teacher.

Again, carving brings me peace. During these times we need the peace of God. Here are some recent pics. (Thanks again Abby of Storylines Creative)

A Medieval Dragon in Cherry wood. I love carving realistic faces but am stretching out.

Some final Touches

This is a prince of a distant land. His headpeice and the details symbolizes his royalty. I am not done with him yet, and yes I made this all up, but it’s my art :).

Black Friday Carving

I finished this guy I call “Deep Sleep”. I tried to pay more attention to the detail in the neck for more realism. I used a pic to help.

I did end up winning the blue ribbon and white (1st and 3rd) at the Bedford Arts show in the sculpting/ceramic/glass catagory. I was pleasanlty surprised that the “Four Face” won the Blue. The Chief took 3rd. I think the amazing grain in the wood that popped when I applied the finished sort of washed out the detail.

I had a lot of Christmas carving plans and it’s black Friday already. I will enjoy doing my best. It’s all fun and I don’t put pressure on myself that would steal the joy of carving.

Make time to create. TV is all the same, screens get old, and creating in whatever medium you enjoy, art, music, drawing, painting, carving, ceramics, scuplting, pyrography, is better for you heart, mood, and emotions than you know. I have found, that once I get out to the shop and get started, I never regret it. Getting started is the challenge. Keep creating friends.

Guy in butternut from the 40’s with ears.

I’m not quite done with this guy. I have been avoiding him because I have not detailed ears much. A carver messaged me on instagram encouraging me to do ears. I did them and now I know I can do full busts with ears. They are tricky and I have more practice to go to perfect them. Butternut is a trick wood, as the grain chips. I love the look. I’ll be finishing this and will post the final pics.

My latest 2 finished

The carving on the left was one of my better faces especially the nose and below the mouth.  He is a pretty stern looking dude.

My next project I tried to carve from picture of this actor. I have had the pic awhile and always looked at it. I finally decided to give it a try.  My son says I should do it like 5 times and see the improvement and the observations I would gain.  I may.  I see many things I missed as I study it.   But it was still an enjoyable project nonetheless.  I am getting low on bark so need to put an order in for the winter carving.  I may have more time as no yard work and I won’t be able to walk or ride mountain bike.  Carving on .

I am not sure if I will put this on my Etsy store. Here is a link to that. Click here

Woodcarving has been a gift to me

So, just speaking sentamentally, When Marty Eddinger, introduced me to woodcarving I had no idea the gift it would be to my life.  Why has it made such a healthy impact in me.  Let me

• I have made new and strong relationships with other men who woodcarve.
• Woodcarving alone, bring me peace, I sense the Lord, and my spirit and emotions are recalibrated.
• It relieves stress and gets my mind off stressful things.
• I never considered myself an artist or even “artistic” but creating something from a piece of wood give me an inner satisfaction of fun accomplishment.
• I have time to think about things I don’t think about when I don’t have time.
• I love my shop and my space. Tools are fun, and wood smells great.
• I love challenges and dreaming.

I will always be grateful to my late friend Marty, who introduced me to woodcarving, taught me so much (eyes!), and encouraged me, and gifted me many things. I miss this guy daily.

Worked on this one this week. Loved every moment.

 

Some pieces I’ve been working on

 

I finished this older lady in cotton wood bark last week. The emphasis was working on wrinkles and making lady features.  This week I worked on the Native American in bark too. Work on the eyes and also trying to get the headress, but its up a little high.  I sure enjoyed these two pieces and carving.

Green Man on the bench

I am working on this green man getting my inspiration from my favorite carver  Alec Lacasse.  I have never done leaves. I’m taking my time.  I feel I have done better on the eyes. I used a pic by Alec and the book by Jeff Phares on eyes.  I just got Ron Adamson’s DVD “The Eyes Have It” in the mail today so I am pretty happy about that.

Finished Geronimo

I finished Geronimo. I wish I would have not touched him with paint.  Well, what is done is done.  Basswood was OK, but not as nice as doing faces in cottonwood bark.

Progressive pics on woodcarving Geronimo

I started this before going up north on vacation and worked on him tonight a couple hours.  I am carving the Legend, Geronimo.  I wish i would have tilted his head, like the picture.  That’s harder than it looks.  I am trying to concentrate on the details of the face.  I’ll do the eyes tomorrow. I don’t like doing the eyes late when I am tired.  They have to be as good as I am able to do them and being tired increases the chances for a mistake.

 

Made it in the studio

I took an hour last night and started this one.  Cottonwood bark, my favorite.  I hope to  finish it this weekend.  I haven’t had much time to carve. The church, family, and keeping on top of the house things, keeps one busy, but I sure enjoy when I get some time to carve.