Carving Rendezvous

This year I attended the carving Rendezvous in Kennewick, WA. I really enjoy these events meeting people and picking up some different techniques in the different classes. The fan on my air conditioner wouldn't work in my motor home but when I checked it out at home it was working. I don't know what that was about. It was hot but there was a nice breeze and we parked under a shade tree so it was comfortable. The first picture is from two different tree branches that are 3 1/2 inches tall. I did the darker one in class and finished the other at home. The top is drilled out and has a compass attached. The second picture is a stylized fox carved from butternut. It is about 7 inches long. The next is a cell phone holder where I got to practice a little chip carving. I did another class but I need to paint it before I post it. They had a contest in carving a piece in bark and judged by peoples choice on Sunday. There isn't much time to carve with all the other stuff going on but I did carve an indian with a feather. It was a fun weekend.

Buck Hunter

This is a roughout from Chris Hammack's bar scene. I like the figures in his bar scene and they are fun to carve. The wood in this roughout was dry and when I painted it the cap had split. I painted it fairly wet. The glue shows but with the brown colors o the cap it isn't to noticeable. This will go with Joe Black as a scene. I have three so I have another one to carve.

Gremlin Puppets

These puppets were carved after reading an article by Tom Borecki on pocket size Gremlins. These are 2 inches to 2 1/2 inches long. They are from scrap pieces of wood about 1 inch square. I drilled a hole in the bottom to fit a pencil before carving. The one is cottonwood bark and the others are basswood. 

Ma and Pa Claus

When asked what I was carving, I replied " Ma and Pa Santa". I suppose I was thinking of Ma and Pa Kettle in the back of my mind. I enjoyed these old movie series. The Santa is about 4 1/2 inches tall.

 

Pencil Puppet

I have a lot of small scraps of wood left from cutting out carving blanks. I have carved pencils to give to kids during the year and I thought maybe I could carve some of these pieces of wood and fit them over the pencil for a puppet. I drilled a hole in the bottom and then carved the faces. I'll have to carve some kid friendly figures to give away as these two look to serious.  

Indian Face

I received a cutout blank and a picture to carve. I don't know who it represents but I enjoyed carving the face. It is 8 inches long by 4 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches thick. 

Kid

This cowboy was carved from a cutout that I won at a carving raffle. He stands about 7 inches tall. My biggest challenge was carving the hands in the back pockets. I forgot the thumbs outside the pockets, so the hands are a little smaller than I wanted. I also tried a different hair color. It looks like the color of clowns hair so maybe he was a rodeo clown.