Photographs

In addition to woodcarving, I also dabble in photography. Having traveled fairly extensively (43 states, 7 countries), I have quite a collection of photographs. I would like to post a few for the enjoyment of others. Maybe you can enjoy them as much as I have over the years.

One of the bench lakes on the lateral moraine above Redfish lake, in the Sawtooth National Recreation area, near Stanley, Idaho

                                          This is Heceta Head Lighthouse, on the Oregon coast.

                                   The Sawtooth range, looking from Little Redfish lake. Beautiful!

 

This is Yaquina Bay lighthouse, on the Oregon coast.

I hope you enjoy these pictures. More to come later!

Woodcarving Illustrated 2012 Best Carving Design Contest

I just sent off my entry form for the 2012 WCI Best Carving Design contest. Let's hope it does well. Winning is not important, but sharing my art is what I do this for.

This fellow is in love! He hopes his vision of beauty will say yes, despite their size differences. You can't see his left hand, but his fingers are crossed behind his back, hoping she will say YES! Here's to true love!

"NO-SEE-UMS"

    John Greener, Norm Sullivan and I (all members of the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild, (www.idahowoodcarversguild.org) did a demo of these "no-see-ums" at the Woodcraft store in Boise this past Saturday (April 7, 2012) as a publicity for the club, to demonstrate basic carving, and to plug the sale of carving tools at Woodcraft. It went very well, even with only a handful of people showing up. They were interested, and one gentleman signed up to take carving classes. These were easy simple projects that can be completed using scrap wood, and for carvers who are reluctant to try carving eyes in small carvings, these do not require eyes.
     I urge beginning carvers to give these a try. They are easy to do, the possibilities are endless, and it is great practice in the other mechanics of carving faces. Many carvers are reluctant to carve faces. I find them a great opportunity to recreate the endless faces I see every day. These small projects allow inexperienced carvers the chance to get some great practice in carving different faces. And if they do not work out very well, they make great "designer firewood". After all, it is wood, so it will burn. Just toss it in the fire and start over.
     Anyway, enjoy these projects, and happy carving!

Some of my recent carvings

 A carving I did for a librarian friend of mine, titled the "Libearian"

                                                        This fellow is proud of his catch. (SOLD)

          I like the smile on this fellow, looks like Gerald McRaney from "Major Dad". For

sale: $75

 

                                    My Boy Scout sign, with the Scout Law on the base.

     I like this carving, "A Bearican Gothic". It won an award at the 2012 Idaho Artistry in Wood Show.             For sale:  $100

This carving is titled "Size Does Not Matter", and won a ribbon at the 2012 Artistry in Wood Show in Boise. For sale:  $150

Latest carving (a commission)

This carving is my latest creation. I created this based on a customer's request of a carving of a friend who was retiring. The customer wanted the subject's favorite teams, as well as his favorite avocations (NASCAR, Nike, etc.). I think it turned out pretty well, if I don't say so myself. However, the glasses were difficult to create. The subject had glasses without the frame on the bottom, so creating glasses that came close was not the easiest thing to do.
I will let you know after I deliver to the customer whether they like it or not. Wish me luck!
Update (April 7, 2012): The customers loved it. So do I!

First blog

Welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy watching and listening to me as I take this journey called life. I will post carvings, paintings, and random thoughts about life in general, and how I enjoy it in particular. 

I look forward to hearing from anyone out there who is listening.