If you have never had the opportunity to see original wood carved art work, you may know how beautiful  carvings can be.  A woodcarvers show was held in spring of 2002 in Menomonie, Wisconsin. These are examples of some of their work.
 
 

Carving Courtesy of K. Raines/Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carvers start with a design on wood especially selected for carving. The most common wood used is bass wood. It is a soft wood, like pine, but it's grain does not split as easily as pine.

The carver uses various tools to remove the extra wood and create the figure of the animal or person being carved.

Carver R. Gritche/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carving tools courtesy of R. Gritche/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carvers can choose from a variety of chisels, knives and other carving tools each designed for a specific job. Expert carvers may own over a hundred different ones.

Carving courtesy of K. Raines/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

After the rough form is competed, fine work is done to create the look of hair, fur or feathers.

Carving by R. Dahlke/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Once the carving is completed, each piece must be carefully painted to make them as life like as possible.

Carvers then try to display the carving in a way that helps to make them seem as real as possible.

Carving by R. Dahlke/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carving by T. Pasche/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carvings can vary in size. Some can be life size, such as this fjord horse...

Carving by R. Dahlke/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

or these cedar wax wings.

Or the carvings can be miniatures of an animal or person, such as this Indian woman.

Carving by W. Kubisiak, Sr./ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carving by R. Biros/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

The carvings can be highly realistic...

or whimsical.

Carving by Wm Kubisiak, Sr./ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Carving by W. Kubisiak, Sr./ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

They can also be carvings of people such as this mountain man made from butternut wood.

Carving by S. Kubisiak/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

There are several other techniques used to create wood carvings. The cross on the left is made using a "chipping" method. The eagle on the right is made using "pyrography" or wood burning.

Carving by S. Kubisiak/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Whatever the technique or the design, wood carving is wonderful, creative art that continues to be done today.

Carving by T. Pasche/ Photo credit P. Solfest 2002

Back to Wood Carving Interview

C.2002. P. Solfest and Altoona School District