Some recent projects

My Rooted Man

I finished a few projects. A rooted man and a great expression in basswood. Our Carving group did the Christmas trees. They turned out great. We had an online auction to help the refugees escaping the war in Ukraine. We raised $450. I have a unique Greenman I am working on right now. This year I have committed to carving expressions in wood and work on some portraits and full busts.

I hope you are creating and enjoying some great time with your passion and art. Nate

I’m at the Arts on the Market Gallery

Some of my carvings are on display and for sale at the new Art Gallery “Arts on the Market” in Downtown Toledo. This is a new Gallery with a lot of crazy great artists. I appreciate the owners, care, vision, and work. Scott is great to work with. Here is their FB page . https://www.facebook.com/Artonmarket/

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.

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 in Basswood

Here is my Green man in basswood in one leaf. I did a progression of it.  I enjoyed carving it a lot.  On to the next project!

Bloody Fingers Woodcarving Co.

Our woodcarving group had an all-day carve a last weekend. We carved from 10-4.  We did a Christmas ornament from a DVD by Mark Gargac, a great carver.  Always a great time carving with some amazing friends, and good food.  We also worked on some of other projects too. Love this group.

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.