Capital City Carvers

Tips and Techniques
by Barbara Mann

Presumably we are all carving because it is a creative activity we enjoy. For some of us the act of carving and enjoying each other's company on Monday nights may be enough. For others the new carvings that are taught regularly may be the attraction. Some want a venue where they can continue to improve their carvings skills. Maybe all of this applies to everyone. So how can we continue to improve?

Over the next few months you will see in Show & Tell the carvings produced by members who attended the Florida Woodcarvers Roundup and the school in Tennessee. You will be looking at one important way some members continue to improve their carving skills. Working in an intensive environment for a few days gives a carver the opportunity to take a big jump forward.

Not everyone can get away for several days in a row to take advantage of these opportunities. That's one reason we bring in an outside instructor for a workshop in January or February. It's also why we plan Saturday workshops such as the two you see on the schedule. Another way is to attend the class I teach on Thursday nights. This is a small group and everyone gets lots of attention (there is a fee for this class).

There is another opportunity in July to attend a nearby woodcarving school. Several club members will be in attendance at the Southeastern Woodcarving School in Prattville, AL. Costs can be kept down by sharing a motel room. And there are a number of different classes to choose from.

So challenge yourself and take advantage of some of these opportunities. It's easy to get stuck on a plateau in carving and one of these opportunities might kick a carver up to the next level. And it's very satisfying to see your carving improve.

See Fantastic Woodburning

To see some very artistic woodburning by a Spanish artist and pyrographer who uses the name PLUNA for his art, go to http://carverscompanion.com. On the left side of the page click on WOM (Woodcarver Online Magazine). Then click on Current Issue (Jan–Feb '09). Then in the left menu box click on Prograffitti #45. Then enjoy some beautifully burned and painted art work. He uses both color pencils and paint and the effect is striking.

Before you leave the website, look at the other features of this issue, including woodcarving pattems. Earlier issues can be accessed through the home page. Twelve years of issues are archived and available for your enjoyment and edification. There are also links to other websites and woodcarving supply stores. This website is a good resource for woodcarvers.

This Month's Pattern

"Roly–Poly Sam" – 25 Uncle Sam Ptterms for Carvers by Al Streetnan
"Cub in a Stump" – From The Country Bear & His Friends by Mike Shipley

See Barbara for cutouts

Southeastern Woodcarving School

The 24th Annual Southeastern Woodcarving School will take place July 10 thru 12, 2009 at the Doster Community Center in Prattville, AL. All classes are three days in length beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, July 10, and ending at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 12.

A fee of $170 is charged to all woodcarving students and $100 for all craft students. The fee includes class instruction and five refreshment breaks. No meals are provided. The cost of blanks and other materials provided by the instructor is payable to the individual instructor and is not included in the class fees. Instructors limit the size of their classes so advance registration is required. Class descriptions, registration materials and other information can be found at http://centralalwoodcarving.com. Here is a short description.

Indian Bust – Carol Jean Boyd. Carving is in a 1/2 round in cedar or mahogany log.

Caricatures – Steve Brown. Over 25 projects to choose from with attention given to facial expression, hand detail and clothing.

Realistic Human Face – Ken Carter. For the beginner who wants an introduction to realistic carving and design. Will concentrate on the facial features and realism.

Laid-back Woodcarving – John Davis. For those who just enjoy carving fun things like animals, spoons, birds and such without the pressure of perfection.

Wood burning – Jim Frizzell. Woodburning on leather, paper and wood.

Pictorial Relief – Dylan Goodson. Mastering control of the tools to carve a relief scene of an old barn.

Cottonmouth Snake Head – Neiland Hale. Power carving a realistic snake head.

Realistic Bluebird – Riley Monroe. Power carving a realistic bird.

Sculptured Portraits in Wood – Larry Nowell. Learn to turn a photo into a carving.

Carving a Cottonwood Bark Face – Mac Protfitt. Stresses carving techniques to carve a face in cottonwood bark.

Human Bust – Larry Rogers. Concentration on understanding the proportion of facial features and the chisel cuts used to bring a life–like face out of a block of wood.

The Real Pinocchio – Steve Schoolar. Carve, paint, clothe, and string a nine inch string Pinocchio puppet.

Walking Cane / Stick – Berry Vestal. Choose from a Macaw, Toucan or Eagle head.

Pictorial Deep Relief – Randy Walters. The subject is an eagle on a broken tree limb surrounded by dogwood flowers.

Running Jack Rabbit – Jim Wilsford. Power carving a running jack rabbit with the back legs in front.

Folk Art Painting – Ethel Green / Mary Beck. Folk art painting on gourds, terra cotta flower pots, wood, etc.

Check the full descriptions for additional information. Some classes do not allow power while others require its use.