Work in pROGRESS
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This is a short video of a commission piece that I had carved of a bird dog. As you can see it is a combination of a relief carving and in the round. I felt that if I just carved the dog by itself in the round it would be too fragile with the thin legs and tail. I incorporated it into a 3-inch thick by 8-inch by 8-inch block of basswood.
Completed piece
This was finished with natural and medium dark danish oil
My latest project. This will be the middle of another shelf.
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Christ the redeemer Rio De Janeiro
Sometimes the Difference Between Good and Great Is Starting Over:
I recently began a new relief carving of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. To ensure accurate proportions, I created a full-size pattern to guide the carving. Ironically, that pattern becomes useless after the first few cuts because it is literally carved away.
To make sure the front and back lined up correctly, I flipped the image when creating the back side so the arms would match. Unfortunately, I forgot to flip the image back before printing the front pattern. The result? The robe drapes on the wrong side. Most people would never notice. Many would simply continue carving and call it finished. But details matter. As you can see in the photos, the mistake is there, and for me, it's unacceptable. Rather than compromise the finished piece, I've decided to start over from scratch and do it correctly. Hand carving isn't just about shaping wood—it's about patience, precision, and a commitment to getting it right, even when it means beginning again. Sometimes the hardest cut a carver makes is the decision to start over. A tree study project that has become be more.
This started out as a study in making a different shaped pine tree, then I made two than I made the third one. Decided they looked too good to toss on the side, so I decided to make a piece of wall art as stated above. I have since added a stream some background trees and mountains, framed with a deciduous tree in the foreground side and top. I usually do not paint my work, but I think I may give this one some color. I like creating something without a plan sometimes. Most of my wood spirit facial expressions appear as I cut.
Decided to not throw away the practice piece but to make a relief wall art carving. Added a stream and start of mountains.
Added a deciduous tree to the forground and some background pines.
Added another tree branch on left side of image, some grass at the base, emphasized the stream and side. Back cut the tops of the three trees to give depth.
Decided to paint the scene instead of just stain and varnish.
Well it is almost completed, I need to clear coat and possibly stain the wood sides. Put a hook on the back. As stated this started as a practice piece of evergreen trees. A few finishing touches and i will put on a sales page.
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