Family carvings and family reunions

     Due to a busy, whirlwind few weeks, I have not had time to post. I finished a few carvings, wrapped around a remodeling project for my father-in-law, who moved in with us, a craft fair and a trip to Tennessee to see my family. 
     I did a few carvings, one for my father and one for my brother. I delivered them during a family reunion (for my dad's birthday) this past weekend and they really enjoyed the carvings.
     Here is a banjoman carved for my brother, Jimmy. He started learning how to play a banjo about 4-5 years ago, after a lifetime of wanting to learn how to play. I am so proud of his ability to learn something new, and he is pretty good at it, too!

     Here is a photo of me at the Meridian Middle School Craft Bazaar. We did not do as well as we wanted, but it gave me some pocket money to go to Tennessee and visit family. More on that below.

     This is a photo of a Shawn Cipa inspired Nativity scene I carved for my sister-in-law. She loved it!

     This is a carving of a mechanic I carved for my father, Jim. He just turned 77, and we had a family reunion on his birthday. We had a great time. I was able to reconnect with family members I had not seen in a long time, some of them more than 20 years.

     We also traveled to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and stopped at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers, owned and operated by Mac Proffitt.

     All in all, it was a great visit, catching up with family and reconnecting with loved ones. We hope it is not another 20 years before we visit with family again.
     Anyway, thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy the pictures.Comments are always welcome.

Memorial post to Amy Linkert

 For those who knew her, she was a sweet soul and a dedicated friend and carver. Amy passed away last month while on a day hiking trip in the Craters of the Moon Park, in Arco, Idaho. She had been out day hiking with her friend Jo Elliot-Blakeslee, who is still missing today.

This was one of the last of Amy's carvings. This carving was of a white buffalo, with some embellishments on the background.

 Here, Amy was sitting in a class with some of the members of the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild. The class was carving faces, hosted by Gene Fuller. In this picture, Amy is chatting with Ken Peterson.

 In this picture, Amy is carving in Dave Stetson's class. She is working on a mountain man designed by Dave Stetson. Amy later finished the carving and it was one of her best, which is saying a lot about the carving.

Amy, we already miss you. We know you are teaching a carving class in Heaven. I hope the angels enjoy your company as much as we did while you traveled among us.

Busy, busy, busy

Like everybody else, it has been a busy time around these parts. I have finished a few carvings, but many have not been painted. I started a woodcarving/woodworking club at school (6th-8th graders), and have taught two classes for Woodcraft (through the Community Education program of the Boise School District). Here are a few carvings.

 These horses are my version of Dave Stetson's caricature horse. I changed some things to suit me.

 I carved this little guy from a blank that I got from Dave Disselbrett in Salem, Oregon when I went to the Tri-Cities Woodcarving Rendezvous in June 2013.

 This fella is a companion to my red-headed cowgirl I carved some time ago. I will have to put them on a base together.
Anyway, I hope you like them. More coming later.

2013 Western Idaho Fair

Several of the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild members have participated in carving demonstrations at the Western Idaho Fair, in Garden City. A good time was had by all as we talked to others about our art and showed carvings off that we had completed. Several of our members also entered the carving competitions and placed in woodcarving categories. Those members included Doug Rose, Jason McKinnon, Don Brigham, Gene Fuller, Dale Shoemaker, Dale Parsons, and Eric Owens. Past members who placed include Dorian Wheaton and Lennie Williams. Overall, it was a great showing for the Fair and the club members. 

One of my favorite things: carving.

                                                  Having a great time!

                 Jason McKinnon carving one of his great zombie bark carvings, although by the time he finished this, I believe he turned it into a wood spirit. Either way, a great job!

 Just a few of my carvings on display, except for the bark house and the zombie carving. Those belong to Jason.

 Jason did the bark houses, and I did the busts, along with the cowboys at the bar. That is one of my favorites.

Craft Fairs and Art Festivals

So, we had great hopes for selling some stuff at the Nampa Festival of the Arts, last weekend, but it was not to be. We sold less than $150 worth of carvings, after spending almost $125 to get set up for it. Quite disappointing, as far as sales go, if I do say so myself. But we did have a good time talking to others about our art, and visiting with friends who stopped by to offer encouragement and a nice hug!

I did have two heroes and friends of mine stop by and visit the booth. Ted Smith, a world famous bird carver from here in Idaho (Nampa) wished me well. His carvings are so amazing. Check out his work at http://deerflatwildfowlartstudio.weebly.com/. 

And my good friend Cleve Taylor (http://www.cca-carvers.org/bio-pages/taylor.html) came by with his wife, Sandy and his grandkids. Cleve wished me well, and stated that he had tried desperately to make a living in the 1980's and 1990's just by selling carvings, but ultimately realized that it was extremely hard to make a living just by selling carvings, unless they were of the highest quality and aiming towards a specific market, such as wildlife, sculptural and architectural. 

I feel better after talking to him about my struggles to sell a few carvings. If you see my carvings, they are heavily influenced by all the times I spent at Cleve's house and workshop, and by sitting with him at our Idaho Woodcarvers Guild club meetings, as well as our weekly Thursday carving sessions at the Woodcraft store in Boise. If Cleve Taylor, who is a member of the Caricature Carvers of America, and who has written several how-to carving books, struggled with selling his carvings, how can I expect to do any better?

But I will still try. I love carving so much, and even if I never sell another carving, I will just give them away and make someone's day better. I can send them off as gifts to friends, colleagues and family, as well as donating some to good causes. And I will continue to promote the art of woodcarving, hopefully picking up a few commissions along the way.

I did speak to a young lady who wanted a Wonder Woman carving, as well as a very nice couple who wanted a carving for their friend who will be retiring soon. I have a few ideas for writing a few books about carving, so I better get cracking on those carvings, so I can take some great pictures. I am continuing to teach classes at Woodcraft, and will be starting a woodcarving club after school at our middle school, Meridian Middle School this year. All of that should be a great deal of fun, passing on all the training and education I have received from other great carvers. 

I do have another craft show in November at Meridian Middle School on November 2nd and 3rd. Let's hope we have better success at that show than we did at the Nampa Festival of Arts. 

See ya there!

Honey-do projects!

I have been busy this past week. I have been putting down the sandstone rocks on the porch to finish the top. What a job! My daughter Beth has helped me this week, working a few hours each day before it got to temperatures of almost 100. My wife and son helped out on the weekends to help finish it up. Between the porch, the shop and (hopefully) next the kitchen, it has been a busy summer. I have not been able to ride my bike, go hiking or take many walks. Oh well!

FINISHED!

 

Gone hoboing!!!

Lately, I have been doing a few hobos. They are good practice for doing complete figures, getting the proportions correct, working on placement of arms and legs for movement, and working on wrinkles. All three of those things are difficult and take practice. What better practice than a few hobos. 
     Anyway, I hope you like these guys.