Here are a couple carving I finished out of cottonwood bark this week. They available on Etsy. You can check it out here . Click here to go to Natewoodsculpting on Etsy
Some carvings this last week
2019 Bedford Arts Show, Temperance, mI
I put 3 carvings in the art show this year. I dropped them off today. I have been working on them on and off for the last few months, the last several months for the chief. The piece I call “Four Face” was carved out of cottonwood bark gifted to me from the great carver Alec Lacasse . He has been a great help to me, as teacher, coach, and friend. I’ll let you know if a nab a ribbon or not.
Why I love wood carving
I love woodcarving. Since that first time I held a chisel in 2007 in Newport TN when Marty Eddinger encouraged me to “give it a try.” I connected emotionally with carving. I have never considered myself an “artist” but I know I am. I love music. It moves me. I create weekly messages to communicate Christ to the church I pastor. That is a form of art. I am attracted to creativity, even though i am an “8” on the enneagram I am often a #4.
I love creating. I love the “shop”. I love the smell, the space, the feel i get when I walk into my shop. The wood, the past are, the music/podcasts I play. I love it. I love the friends I have made, the ones I carve with. I love the fellowship when I carve alone. I mean God is the greatest creator.
I often chuckle at those that “poke” at me for carving, saying they don’t have that kind of time. Well, I know we make time for what we love. People are sitting too much. I know most people watch a couple hours of T.V. a day. I don’t watch that much. I don’t hunt, or fish much, hate golf, but I love wood. I am loving the creating, artistic side better. There is just something about working with your hands.
Cardiovascular disease is the western worlds biggest killer, with stress being one of the main contributing factors. Creativity seems to be the ultimate stress buster, and artists have an ability to move effortlessly from the analytical left brain mode into the sublime right brain creative mindset, dissolving stress in the process. “Being in the zone” refers to that magical state of being completely engaged in something to the point of a near meditative state. This single-minded immersion is like being on autopilot, totally in control without consciously thinking about the process.
Picasso once said, “when I enter the studio, I leave my physical body at the door “. I too feel like that.
I love the learning involved. I have learned to carve. It’s not a gift. I have to read, study, take lessons, practice and fail. I love it all.
Woodcarving my not be your thing, but something is and it’s not watching cable and Netflix all the time. Learn an art, an instrument, a hobby and enjoy it. Woodsculpting is a gift from God to me and I am thankful.
Guy in butternut from the 40’s with ears.
I’m not quite done with this guy. I have been avoiding him because I have not detailed ears much. A carver messaged me on instagram encouraging me to do ears. I did them and now I know I can do full busts with ears. They are tricky and I have more practice to go to perfect them. Butternut is a trick wood, as the grain chips. I love the look. I’ll be finishing this and will post the final pics.
Ears in Butternut
I have been challenged by a fellow carver to work on ears so I started this bust in wonderful butternut with the goal of carving ears below the cap. I have another bust I am attempted ears. They are harder than I thought. I will persevere and learn. I want to be able to do it. It’s one of the next steps to being better carver.
Revived a deserted project
I had given up on this face a few years ago. Even tested some paint on it. Well, I pull it out last weekend and redid it and was pretty glad I did not throw him in the fire.
Woodsculpting from a Pic.
I tried to carve from a picture as I am learning. It was a challenge, but turned out pretty good. My guy appears younger than the pic.
