1st Place: Alex Joiner

2nd Place: Walter Imfeld	3rd Place: Dave Deming

4th Place: Lee Simpkins	5th Place: Mary Beth Blair

Editor’s Picks: Bradley Gusloff and Jim Willis

Bradley Gusloff                                         Jim Willis

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The post The 2023 Great Santa Carve-Off Winners appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Congratulations to the winners of the fourth 2016 People’s Choice Contest! The fourth category, announced last spring, was Ornaments: Painted and Unpainted. The entries we received all showed joy for the holiday season. We’ll be talking to some of these carvers about sharing their patterns in future issues. Plus, cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Ornaments: Painted

First Place: Three Kings

Arturo Torres of Carmel, N.Y., carved
Three Kings from basswood and detailed the piece with a woodburner and gold and silver leaf. Three Kings Day is celebrated in Puerto Rico in January as part of the Christmas holiday. Children leave grass for the wise men’s horses and, in exchange, the wise men leave gifts. Three Kings is 21/2″ by 5″.

Second Place: Angel for Chris

Don Lang of Bella Vista, Ariz., designed Angel for Chris to help a young man in need. In 2016 Chris Teske of Chandler, Ariz., was the victim of a car accident that left him a quadriplegic who needs a lifetime of therapy and care. Don is selling angels and cutouts to help Chris pay for his medical care. Angel for Chris is 4″ by 7″ and was carved from basswood with hand tools.

Third Place: Pondering Santa

Sharon Morris of St. Louis, Mo., based Pondering Santa on her father, who always smoked a pipe. Christmas was his favorite time of the year because the family got together for an old-fashioned holiday. Pondering Santa is 31/4″ by 4″ and was carved from basswood with hand tools.

Ornaments: Unpainted

First Place: Triskelion Pendant

Jason Townsend of Cambridgeshire, U.K., scrolled and then carved Triskelion Pendant with hand tools from steamed pear wood. The pendant, 1/4″ by 2″ by 2″, was inspired by gothic motifs and the classic Celtic triskelion. It is suspended from a satin ribbon with sterling silver clasps.

Second Place: Light Behind the Cross

Dirk Jepma of Leeuwarden, Friesland, in the Netherlands, carved Light Behind the Cross from mahogany with hand tools. It is 12″ by 18″. Dirk said that his inspiration for the piece was “passion.”

The post The Votes are in for the Fourth People’s Choice Contest 2016 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Congratulations to the second winners in the 2016 People Choice Contest!

We are trying something new this year. Instead of running one big competition, we are breaking it into ongoing mini matches. Plus, we are offering cash prizes! Special thanks to our second contest sponsors, Chipping Away.

The second category, announced last fall, was Deep Blue Sea. Although we didn’t receive many entries, they were strong designs that demonstrated creative carving and finishing. We’ll be talking to some of these carvers about sharing their projects in future issues.

Deep Blue Sea: Unpainted

First Place: Sting Ray In Motion

Anthony Gnutek of Roselle, Ill., carved the Sting Ray In Motion from cherry. The body, wings, and tail are one complete piece. The stingray is mounted on a manzanita root. Anthony said he was inspired “after taking a trip to the Cayman Islands where I had a large stingray swim into my arms as I was holding a piece of squid in my hand. It stayed on my arms for a while, giving me a chance to look into its eyes and take notice of this wonderful, gentle creature. The graceful movement this animal possessed was absolutely beautiful. I tried my best to capture this movement in my carving.” Sting Ray In Motion is 7 1/2″ by 11″ by 14″.

Second Place: Pas de Deux

Janet Cruse of Manitoba, Canada, power-carved the 18″-tall Pas de Deux from cherry with glass insets. “Seahorses mate for life and swim in pairs with their tails linked together, the small fin on their back fluttering in a ballet-like dance,” said Janet. “Including inset stained-glass pieces adds
a delightful element of light.”

Third Place: Brook Trout

Mike Janik from McMinnville, Ore., handcarved Brook Trout from cypress that was salvaged from an old water tower.

Deep Blue Sea: Painted

First Place: Octopus

Luis Arturo Torres of Carmel, N.Y., handcarved the 2 1/2″ by 5 1/2″ Octopus from basswood. “This contest reminded me of my scouting days in Puerto Rico when we would go to the ocean and explore the underwater life,” said Luis of his inspiration for the carving.

Second Place: Up, Up, Breathe

Diane Hight of Fredonia, Kan., carved the 8″ by 12″ Up, Up, Breathe from basswood. Diane said her inspiration “came from photos and documentaries of humpback whale mothers pushing their babies to the surface for that crucial first breath. I found myself often holding my own breath as I completed the attachment of the calf to her mother.”

Third Place: Porkfish

Brian Altison of Holden,
Mass., power-carved the 5 1/2″ by 11 3/4″ Porkfish from tupelo and pine. All components are carved. “I started this fish after researching Belize on the Internet,” said Brian. “I saw that the country is home to many different fish; this one caught my eye for its beautiful colors.”

The post The Votes are in for the Second People’s Choice Contest 2016 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Here are the finalists for the Chip Carving and Tramp Art Carving sponsored by Flexcut.

Voting will end on April 30, and the winners will be announced in the Fall issue of Woodcarving Illustrated  (which will be available in July). The results will also be posted online.

Limit one vote per day.

• Click Here to Vote for the Chip Carving Unpainted.
  
• Click Here to Vote for the Chip Carving Painted.
  
• Click Here to Vote for the Tramp Art Carving Unpainted.
  
• Click Here to Vote for the Tramp Art Carving Painted.

Be sure to check out the next contest HERE. Entries are being accepted now.

The post VOTE NOW: Chip and Tramp Art Carving 2016 People’s Choice Awards appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

This is your chance to show it off—and maybe collect some cash!

Presenting the 2016 Woodcarving Illustrated People’s Choice Awards.

Entries are being accepted until June 15, 2016 for: Ornaments – Painted and Unpainted.

New This Year:

• Instead of one big contest, we’ll be running small contests all year, one or two categories at a time. You’ll know the deadlines ahead of time and be able to plan your entries in advance.
• Cash prizes! Winners in each category will receive $50 for first place, $30 for second place, and $20 for third place.

How It Works:

• Submit as many entries as you like during the entry period for the each contest—it’s always free to enter! Then, the staff of Woodcarving Illustrated will choose up to 10 designs in each category.
• The Editors’ Choice Award winners will be posted on our website to compete for the People’s Choice Awards via public voting. Vote for your favorites, and share the contest with your friends so they can vote, too!
• The People’s Choice Award winners will be published in Woodcarving Illustrated and announced on the magazine website. We’ll send those cash prizes and a nice certificate for your wall.
• Plus! All entries will be considered for possible paid publication as projects in Woodcarving Illustrated.

Categories and Deadlines:

The theme for the fourth contest is Ornaments: Painted & Unpainted. We’re looking for your best ideas and projects.

Entry Information:

• Please send one high-resolution or professionally printed photo of your entry, along with the following information: Category (Ornaments Painted OR Ornaments Unpainted), carving name, size, type of wood, tools (hand vs. power), and story/inspiration, if any. Also, include your name, address, and e-mail address. If you do not have e-mail, include a phone number instead. See the Rules for important entry details (visit online, or send an SASE to request a printed copy).

• E-mail your entries to: editors@woodcarvingillustrated.com with a subject of “WCI Contest.” Or, mail to: WCI Contest, Fox Chapel Publishing, 1970 Broad St., East Petersburg PA 17520. Entries must be received by June 15, 2016.

• All entries must be original designs created by the entrant. They cannot be made from, inspired by, or variations of anyone else’s pattern or roughout; they cannot be class projects; no one else can have helped with the carving. By entering, you verify that your entry is your own creation.

The post Call for Entries – Peoples Choice Awards – Ornaments, Painted and Unpainted appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Congratulations to the first winners in the 2016 People’s Choice Contest!

We are trying something new this year with our contest. Instead of running one big competition, we are breaking it into ongoing mini-matches. Plus, we are offering cash prizes! Special thanks to our first contest sponsor, King Arthur’s Tools.

The first category, announced last fall, was Realistic Mammals (not human): Painted or Unpainted. Although we didn’t receive many entries, they were strong designs that demonstrated creative carving and finishing. We’ll be talking to some of these carvers about sharing their patterns in future issues.

Realistic Mammals (not human): Painted

First Place: Zen

Phil Milan of Wentzville, Mo., carved Zen to resemble his daughter’s dog by the same name. He has carved several other dogs for family members, friends, and competition. Some of the live models have since passed away. Notes Phil, “My daughters and others are very grateful to have these loving reminders of their dogs.” Zen is 8″ tall and handcarved from basswood.

Second Place: Rocky

Anthony DeCarli of Eynon, Pa., carved Rocky as a tribute to his own dog, a yellow lab who loved to fetch the morning paper. Rocky was power-carved from basswood.

Third Place: Polar Bear

Jim Willis of Kansas City, Mo., handcarved this Polar Bear, 4″ by 6″ by 10″, from jelutong.

Realistic Mammals (not human): Unpainted

First Place: Running Cheetah

Danny R. Moss of Phoenix, Az., says that his winning piece was inspired by animals in the wild. He created it using a combination of power-carving and handcarving. The cheetah is approximately 3″ by 7″ and made of boxwood with woodburned spots.

Note: We only received a handful of entries in the unpainted category, so there is just one winner.

The post The Votes are in for the First WCI People’s Choice Contest 2016 appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Here are the finalists for the Deep Blue Sea sponsored by Chipping Away.

Voting will end on February 17, 2016 and the winners will be announced in the Spring / Summer issue of Woodcarving Illustrated  (which will be available in May. The results will also be posted online in May 2016.

Limit one vote per day.

Click Here to Vote in the Painted Category

Click Here to Vote in the Unpainted Category

Be sure to check out the next contest that is beginning soon.

The post VOTE NOW: Deep Blue Sea 2016 People’s Choice Awards appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Do you have a great new carving you can’t wait to share with the world?

This is your chance to show it off—and maybe collect some cash!

.

Presenting the 2016 Woodcarving Illustrated People’s Choice Awards.

Entries are being accepted until January 15, 2016 for: DEEP BLUE SEA (fish and sea life) – Painted and Unpainted.

New This Year:

• Instead of one big contest, we’ll be running small contests all year, one or two categories at a time. You’ll know the deadlines ahead of time and be able to plan your entries in advance.
• Cash prizes! Winners in each category will receive $50 for first place, $30 for second place, and $20 for third place. Special thanks to our friends at Chipping Away for sponsoring the prizes for Contest 2 Deep Blue Sea (fish and sea life): Painted & Unpainted.

How It Works:

• Submit as many entries as you like during the entry period for the each contest—it’s always free to enter! Then, the staff of Woodcarving Illustrated will choose up to 10 designs in each category.
• The Editors’ Choice Award winners will be posted on our website to compete for the People’s Choice Awards via public voting. Vote for your favorites, and share the contest with your friends so they can vote, too!
• The People’s Choice Award winners will be published in Woodcarving Illustrated and announced on the magazine website. We’ll send those cash prizes and a nice certificate for your wall.
• Plus! All entries will be considered for possible paid publication as projects in Woodcarving Illustrated.

Categories and Deadlines:

The theme for the second contest is Deep Blue Sea: Painted & Unpainted. Fish, whales, dolphins, anemones, leafy sea dragons … you name it. We’re looking for your best fish and sea life. Size and shape don’t matter; it can be a miniature bust, a half-size relief, or a full-sized figure in the round.

Realistic animals not your thing? Start planning your entries for the next contest! (Please help us stay organized by waiting for the entry period for each contest to send your photos.)

Entry Information:

• Please send one high-resolution or professionally printed photo of your entry, along with the following information: Category (Painted or Unpainted), carving name, size, type of wood, tools (hand vs. power), and story/inspiration, if any. Also, include your name, address, and e-mail address. If you do not have e-mail, include a phone number instead. See the Rules for important entry details (visit online, or send an SASE to request a printed copy).

• E-mail your entries to: editors@woodcarvingillustrated.com with a subject of “WCI Contest #DeepBlueSea16.” Or, mail to: WCI Contest #DeepBlueSea16, Fox Chapel Publishing, 1970 Broad St., East Petersburg PA 17520. Entries must be received by January 15, 2016.

• All entries must be original designs created by the entrant. They cannot be made from, inspired by, or variations of anyone else’s pattern or roughout; they cannot be class projects; no one else can have helped with the carving. By entering, you verify that your entry is your own creation.

Special thanks to our friends at Chipping Away for sponsoring the cash prizes for the contest!

The post Deep Blue Sea Call for Entries – People’s Choice Awards Contest appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Vote now for the 2015 Woodcarving Illustrated People’s Choice Awards.

Here are the finalists for the Realistic Mammals (not human) Painted category sponsored by King Arthur’s Tools.

Voting will end on November 15, 2015 and the winners will be announced in the Winter issue of Woodcarving Illustrated (available December 2015). The results will also be posted online in January 2016.

Limit one vote per day.

After you vote, be sure to vote for your favorite Realistic Mammals (not human) UNPAINTED entry.

Be sure to check out the next contest that is beginning soon.

Vote now for your favorite finalist in the Realistic Mammals (not human) Painted category.

Grizzly

 

Lazy Fox

 

Squirrel

Dog

 

Zen

Polar Bear

Poll Maker

The post VOTE NOW: Realistic Mammals (not human) – PAINTED – 2015 People’s Choice Awards appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Vote now for the 2015 Woodcarving Illustrated People’s Choice Awards.

Here are the finalists for the Realistic Mammals (not human) Unpainted category sponsored by King Arthur’s Tools.

Voting will end on November 15, 2015 and the winners will be announced in the Winter issue of Woodcarving Illustrated (available December 2015). The results will also be posted online in January 2016.

Limit one vote per day.

After you vote, be sure to vote for your favorite Realistic Mammals (not human) PAINTED entry.

Be sure to check out the next contest that is beginning soon.

Vote now for your favorite finalist in the Realistic Mammals (not human) Unpainted category.

Bronco Silverado

Cheetah

Quiz Maker

The post VOTE NOW: Realistic Mammals (not human) – Unpainted – 2015 People’s Choice Awards appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.