The show is held at the Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association in Kinzers, PA. We’ve made improvements to the show layout and have many knew things in store for you.

Like the previous years, we will have exciting and engaging classes and workshops available, free demonstrations, our ever-growing vendor halls, our Alan’s Attic scratch-and-dent tent, activities for kids and family members, and plenty of interaction with our authors, artists, and crafters. On top of that, you can take part in additional festivities associated with Rough and Tumble’s Spring Steam-Up. This is an event that just keeps on growing!

Start your planning now. You don’t want to miss this exciting and fun family event.

For more information, please visit the official show website at: www.wood-show.com.

The post The 2016 Fox Chapel Open House and Woodworking Show will be here before you know it! appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Adding scenery and a sky gives a bark house a whole new look

By Bob Hershey

One of my favorite things to carve is a themed bark house. Over the years I’ve created houses for Christmas, July 4th, and Thanksgiving, but my favorite houses are for Halloween. Cottonwood bark lends itself especially well to an eerie Halloween look.

No two pieces of bark are the same, so any measurements, dimensions, and patterns are suggestions. Adapt the design to fit your bark. As long as you set your landmarks in well, your piece will turn out fine.


Materials:
Cottonwood bark, 3″ (76mm) thick: 3 1/2″ x 13″ (89mm x 33cm)
Oil paints: Payne’s grey, black, reddish-brown, gold, brick red, orange, silver, green, white, buff titanium, cadmium yellow deep, ultramarine blue
Natural oil stain, such as Minwax
Finish, such as Deft: spray semi-gloss
Watco Danish oil wax: natural, dark walnut
Paper bag

Tools:
Carving knife
#5 gouge: 3/4″ (19mm)
#7 gouge: 5/8″ (16mm)
#11 gouge: 1/8″ (3mm)
Micro gouge: 1/8″ (3mm), 5/32″ (4mm)
V-tool: 1/16″ (2mm) or stylus, 1/8″ (3mm), 1/2″ (13mm)
Compass
Paintbrushes: #2, #4, #8 round

CLICK HERE to download the full step-by-step article.

CLICK HERE to view a gallery of bark houses carved by Bob Hershey.

Read the Illustrated Guide to Carving Bark by Rick Jenson and Jack A. Williams for more information. The book is available at www.foxchapelpublishing.com for $14.95 plus S&H. 




Read more great articles from Woodcarving Illustrated Fall 2014 (Issue 68).

The post Spooky Halloween House appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Features:

• The Art of Leaf Carving
• Skeletal Remains
• Meet Döderhultarn
• Decrypting Thai Carving
• Getting a Handle on It

Techniques:

• Learn to “Weave”Wood
• Straw-Stuffed Scarecrow
• Old World-Style Chip Carving
• Nuts for the Holidays
• Getting Started with Architectural Carving

Projects:

• Carving a Pumpkin
• Grizzly Bear Bust
• New Options for Bark Cottages
• The Halloween Express
• Thai-Inspired Relief Carving
• Candy Corn Goblins

Patterns:

• Caricature Native Americans

Web Exclusives:

• Bonus Patterns Download the patterns for two more Caricature Native Americans (pg. 73).
• Video Demonstration See Saw Stop’s remarkable table saw braking system in action (pg. 16).
• Detailed Instructions – Get step-by-step instructions for the Scarecrow (pg. 48) to print or read online.
• Open House Photos Find lots more photos of our 2015 Open House, plus save-the-date info for 2016, at the show website, www.wood-show.com.

WCI72 Sneak Peek:

Woodcarving Illustrated

The post Woodcarving Illustrated Fall 2015 Issue 72 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

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Features:

• Under the Sea
• The Doane Woodcarving Experience
• Carving Family Fun

Techniques:

• Designing Celtic Knotwork
• Carving a Female Face

Projects:

• Wild Rose
• Pirate Captain Caricature
• Carving Found Wooden Objects
• Carving a Cowgirl
• Whittling an Eagle
• Lady Liberty
• Chip Carving a Reef Fish
• Power Carving a Saw Whet Owl
• Dancing Jester

Patterns:

• Chip Carving a Flower

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Woodcarving Illustrated

The post Woodcarving Illustrated Summer 2015 Issue 71 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

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Features:

• Artistic Illusions
• Bon Appetit
• Great Gouges: The Essential Tool Kit
• Miniature Masterpieces

Patterns:

• Power-Carved Pirate Ship
• Grizzly Bear

Projects:

• Irresistible Carved Cupcakes
• Small Wonders Tree Spirit
• Sweet Spring Rabbit
• Miniature Welsh Lovespoons
• Chip-Carved Cross
• Carving a Toad
• Whittling A Dog
• Charming Chapel Plate
• Whittling a Bear in a Log
• Stylized Sea Turtle
• The Running of the Bull

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The post Woodcarving Illustrated Spring 2015 Issue 70 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

By Bob Duncan

It’s something of an incongruity that one of the most innovative and influential carvers in the United States uses a humble found wood as his medium. Rick Jensen has been carving cottonwood bark—literally, the thick bark of dead plains cottonwood trees, which Rick harvests himself in East Grand Forks, Minn.—for 30 years. The Minnesota native has been teaching his techniques in classes, at shows, and in print for nearly as long; thanks to him, whimsical bark houses regularly appear at carving shows and competitions around the country.

“Rick didn’t invent bark carving, but he has popularized it all over the United States,” said Alan Giagnocavo, the publisher of Woodcarving Illustrated. “It used to be that bark carving was limited to wood spirits and the like. Now, thanks to Rick, we’re also seeing bark houses, castles, and lighthouses—pieces with incredible detail, but also a sense of humor, like Rick himself. Rick shares his talents, creativity, and techniques widely, which makes him an ideal Woodcarver of the Year.”

Rick started carving at age 7, when his father gave him a pocketknife. He whittled sticks for years, gradually learning to control the cuts. He carved his first decorative piece, a redwood ram, while in high school; Rick still displays the ram at home as a reminder of how far he’s progressed as a carver.

After devoting several decades to family life, education, and the Vietnam War, Rick returned to woodcarving in 1984.  Soon after, Bobby and Vicki Thurman of Kansas City, Mo., introduced him to cottonwood bark houses and encouraged his enthusiasm. “Bobby and Vicki were really supportive of my whimsical houses,” Rick said.

In addition to the Thurmans, Rick credits the legendary caricature carver Harold Enlow with influencing his carving. “Harold taught me how to carve clean, and how to impress people when I carve,” Rick said. Harold taught him to hold an audience’s attention while carving by making dramatic cuts and telling jokes and stories.

According to Harold, he and Rick became instant friends. “When they were still having seminars at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., Rick would always be there,” remembered Harold. “I never saw him turn down anyone wanting help with a cottonwood bark house. He even helped our daughter carve a small house.

“A few days ago, we saw a man at a woodcarving show with a table full of cottonwood bark houses,” Harold added. “He told us he had taken classes from Rick Jensen, and that Rick was a great inspiration and got him hooked on the houses. I’m sure there are many other carvers out there who would say the same thing.”

Now a favorite teacher at clubs and shows across the country, Rick began teaching by accident. “I was carving wood spirits in bark and attending wood shows, when I was asked to teach a class on bark carving at a club meeting in Ranforks, Minn.,” Rick said. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, but when I started teaching, things started to change. I was working on my whimsical stuff, and it just mushroomed from there.”

Soon Rick was teaching classes in the evenings at the late John Burke’s Western & Wildlife Workshop. One year, Rick coordinated with John to display his whimsical houses at the workshop. The workshop drew some of the country’s top carvers, including Jeff Phares, Janet Denton Cordell, Desiree Hajny, and Kirt Curtis. “I wanted the expert instructors’ thoughts on my carvings and techniques,” Rick said. “They gave me great feedback. Everyone said ‘just do more of it.’ Janet Denton Cordell said, ‘I could move into this one tomorrow!’”

After the day of classes, Rick took down his display—and John insisted he put it back up. “John told me he wanted me to teach a class on bark carving during the day,” Rick said. From there, Rick started teaching at other big seminars, including the International Woodcarvers Congress in Davenport, Iowa, War Eagle Woodcarving Seminar in Bentonville, Ark., and Silver Dollar City.

Rick’s work continued to gain popularity, and he was featured in Vic Hood and Jack Williams’ book, Carving Found Wood. Rick’s carvings went over well, so Fox Chapel Publishing asked Rick to write a book about bark carving. Together with Jack Williams, Rick created the Illustrated Guide to Carving Tree Bark.

Since then, Rick has continued to refine both his carving techniques and his teaching methods. “I didn’t start out to be an instructor,” Rick explained. “It just happened. I’m a people person, and I like to make people comfortable. And whimsical bark houses are great for teaching carving. There are no rules, and no mistakes. You can always change things and fix a slip.”

Even after carving bark for three decades, Rick sees potential in bark houses. “We’ve barely scratched the surface of what can be done,” Rick said. “I’m teaching a new class this year. I combine several small pieces (add-ons) to create a large carving.” He has recently carved a few pieces from spalted wood,  because the stronger wood allows him to create more intricate designs, but even then Rick uses the techniques he developed for bark. “Bark is a fun medium to work on. It’s challenging.”

“There is no question that Rick is the most influential carver I’ve seen in the United States in a long time,” said Vic Hood, an expert carver and the 2011 Woodcarver of the Year. “You can’t go to a show anywhere in the United States and not see his influence. I’ve seen chainsaw carvers creating whimsical houses inspired by Rick’s work. At the 2013 Dayton Artistry in Wood show, I ran into Rick and I said ‘I see your handiwork all over this show.’ It’s mind-blowing how many carvings he influenced at the Artistry in Wood show.”

“I’m astounded at how he reinvents himself every year,” Vic added. “He’s moved from whimsical houses to tree
houses and even boat houses. Rick adds a new twist every year. It’s amazing!”

The 2014 Holiday issue of Woodcarving Illustrated is now available. This issue is packed with projects, how-tos, patterns, and more.

The post (Bark) Cottage Industry appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Step-by-step instructions to paint this holiday favorite

By Rick Jensen

Many carvers struggle with painting. Here are more detailed instructions with step-by-step photos showing how I paint the Santa.

Finishing the carving

After the paint has dried, seal the piece with a few light coats of spray lacquer, allowing the finish to dry for about five minutes between coats. Avoid getting the lacquer on the natural bark. The goal is to create an even sheen on the piece when the lacquer is dry. Then, tone down the gloss with a matte spray finish. Use a brush to apply a mixture of equal parts Watco light finishing wax and Watco dark finishing wax. Allow it to sit for five minutes, and then use the brush to remove the excess; wipe the brush off on a shop towel. Leave some wax in the grooves to create depth and dimension. Allow the wax to dry for a few minutes and then buff it to a soft glow. I use a Muffer Buffer polishing brush in a rotary tool.

Materials:
• Acrylic paint, such as Delta Ceramcoat: medium flesh, red iron oxide, ivory, black, Mendocino red, liberty blue
• Flow medium
• Spray lacquer
• Matte spray finish
• Watco finishing wax: light, dark

Tools:
• Paintbrushes: assorted
• Muffer Buffer polishing brush (available from The Woodcraft Shop) materials & tools

Read the full step-by-step carving instructions in Woodcarving Illustrated Holiday 2014 (Issue 69).

The post Painting the Cottonwood Bark Santa appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

By Bob Yancey

This year, I had a lot of fun adding faces to traditional Christmas objects, like stockings and candles. I made sure to give these caricatures some attitude! With a little pen work, it’s easy to customize these pieces with names, dates, or funny sayings.

Carving the Ornaments

These ornaments are easy to carve. As you carve the nose, thin it from bottom to top. Carve the eyes with a 1/32″ (1mm) #11 gouge and a V-tool. To make the bags under the eyes, lay the V-tool on its side and carve along the bottom. To add texture to the toe and heel of the stocking, I use a power-engraving tool (the vibrating type used to mark metal and plastic).

To carve the candle ornament, round the sides of the candle from top to bottom. Taper the bottom of the base from the under side of the rim, and
drill a hole in the handle with a Forstner bit. Carve a circle around the hole and the rim with the V-tool.

Painting the Ornaments

Dampen the face with an atomizer filled with water. Apply flesh-tone paint to the face. While it is still wet, apply red to the nose and cheeks; blend the red into the flesh tone. Paint the top of the stocking white, and then paint the rest of the stocking any color. Paint the candle flame yellow, and blend the candle color with the flesh tone. Paint the iris and pupil; use a cut-off toothpick to add a white highlight dot. Add decorative dots and star bursts using a 1/8″ (3mm)-diameter dowel. Use a pen, like Hunt’s extra-fine round point, to add a message.

After the paint dries, spray on a coat of Deft satin finish. Attach a small screw eye to the top. Sign and date the back of the carving.

Materials:
Basswood, 1/2″ (13mm) thick: assorted sizes
Sandpaper: Abradenet 80, 120 grits; automotive wet/dry 220 grit
Acrylic paint: flesh tone, red, white, gold, black (and other colors based on carving)
Pen: Hunt’s extra-fine round point #22 or Pigma Micron .05 archival ink
Toothpicks
Finish, such as Deft: satin
Screw eye, small: 1 per ornament

Tools:
Knife
#9 gouges: 3/16″ (5mm), 9/32″ (7mm)
#11 gouge: 1/32″ (1mm)
V-tool: small
Paintbrushes
Power-engraving tool
Atomizer bottle filled with water
Dowel: 1/8″ (3mm) diameter (to make plain dots)

CLICK HERE to download the article and patterns.

Read Handcarved Christmas (Best of WCI) for more information. Giving a handcarved Christmas ornament or gift is as much fun as it is to make one. Includes projects for caricature ornaments, whittled pencils, a folk art tree topper whittled pencils, and more. The book is available for $19.95 plus S&H at www.foxchapelpublishing.com.



CLICK HERE to see more great projects from Woodcarving Illustrated Holiday (Issue 69). CLICK HERE to purchase the issue.

The post Ornaments with Attitude appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

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Features:

• (Bark) Cottage Industry
• Moose Antler Madness
• 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Techniques:

• Chip-Carved Barrettes
• Learn to Paint: Using Thinned Acrylics

Projects:

• Cottonwood Bark Santa Claus
• Folk-Art Angel Ornament
• “Shorty” the Christmas Elf
• Kitten in a Mitten Ornament
• The Spirit of Christmas
• Not Your Grandmother’s Holiday Elf

Patterns:

• Snazzy Spiral Ornament
• Christmas Chain
• Christmas Reindeer
• Angel Tree Topper
• Cheerful Christmas Ornaments
• Old World Santa Puzzle

Web Exclusives:

• Ornaments with Attitude
• Painting Instructions: Cottonwood Bark Santa

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Woodcarving Illustrated

The post Woodcarving Illustrated Holiday 2014 Issue 69 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Use these designs to carve gunstocks— or anything else!

By Lora S. Irish

Carving the stock can add personal value and beauty to a gun. No matter your skill level, Lora S. Irish’s new book, 35 Gunstock Carving Patterns, will help you embellish your gunstock and make it a family heirloom that will be treasured for years.

Not a hunter? These patterns aren’t limited to gunstocks—you can carve (or paint, or woodburn) them on anything!

Getting Started

Always pick a pattern that suits your skill level. If you are a beginner, you can remove elements and simplify lines; if you are more experienced, add more elements or more details to the pattern. Keep in mind the gun’s purpose, as well. You don’t want to carve a water scene onto a gun used for deer hunting; you also don’t want to carve a very intricate pattern onto a gun that will be used heavily in the field.

Most gunstock patterns are relief carvings, which can be created with woodcarving tools like knives and handheld gouges. Relief carving gives the piece a rounded, dimensional look, which looks great on a gunstock.

Carving the Gunstock

To begin, assess the state of the gunstock. If it needs to be replaced, you can begin with a standard blank stock, a roughed-out stock, or a kit. Choose a hardwood such as walnut, cherry, maple, or myrtle for durability.

Carefully fit the pattern to the length, the width, and the curve of your gunstock. Use a photocopier to enlarge or reduce the pattern. Make tiny straight cuts or small V-shaped darts to fit the pattern to the curve of the stock. Transfer the pattern onto the stock using carbon or graphite paper. Carve the piece using your choice of tools.

Finishing the Gunstock

To finish the project, lightly sand the wood and remove excess wood dust with a tack cloth. Apply a hand-rubbed wax or oil finish that will enhance the grain of the wood. Test different waxes and finishes on scrap wood to determine which will be best for your gunstock. Don’t allow excess wax or oil to collect in the low spots of the design. Avoid colored finishes, high-gloss finishes, and paints.

Animal relief patterns

materials & tools

MATERIALS:

• Gunstock or wood to replace gunstock
• Carbon or graphite paper
• Wax or oil finish
• Sandpaper
• Tack cloth

TOOLS:

• Tools of choice: knives, gouges, and V-tools

Lora S. Irish is a carver, artist, author, and pattern designer.
For more of her work, visit www.carvingpatterns.com.

135 Gunstock Carving Patterns
By Lora S. Irish

With excellent choices for every skill level, the traditional sportsman and hunting related patterns in this book are great for not only gunstocks, but also knife handles, pistol grips, duck calls, and even home dècor projects.

Availablefor $16.99 plus $3.99 S&H from FoxChapel Publishing,
1970 BroadSt., East Petersburg, Pa., 17520,800-457-9112,
www.foxchapelpublishing.com, or check your local retailer.

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