WOODCARVERS
Some sharp wits
and even sharper tools.
The smirking cowboy carving above was done by Ashland’s Dick Strine. Members of a local, wood carving group meet in Strine’s shop each Thursday. From left they are Dave McCquillen and son Brad from Mifflin, Strine in the red ball cap, Tony Fox, Mansfield, (back to camera), Ron Mosier, Hayesville (in plain white T shirt) and Paul Shodorf, Ashland.
ARTISTRY IN WOOD—
Formed in 1981 the Johnny Appleseed Woodcarvers, some 60 members strong, are a spirited group who certainly take the casual pastime of whittling to a much higher level.
Members show up at gatherings with their carving tools carefully wrapped and projects-in-process ready for the next step on their evolution into treasured family heirlooms.
Veteran members are eager to share their hard-won experience with newcomers. They are equally as eager to tell a whopper which usually leads to a spirited groan from their alert audience as the chips continue to rain onto growing piles of tinder.
Depending on the carving style, a block of wood can evolve into a delightful treasure in an hour or so. More often though, that creation will take hours—lots of hours—until it is nicked or burnished or artfully techniqued into its stunning new design.
“I examine a raw chunk of sometimes bark covered wood and enjoy the strong urge to cut in there and see what I can find,” Strine enthused. It could be the profile of an Indian. It could be Santa Clause, or, a sleek animal just waiting to escape from a knarled hunk of lignin.
Some carved creations can be astonishingly life-like, especially when Robert Holdeman of Ashland goes to work on his fabulous bird creations.
One member of the group works at his art professionally. Mansfielder Walt Ruess is located here: http://www.waltruess.com/. Take a peek at his galleries or his storefront for that very special gift.
Looking for a nifty new hobby? The group has scheduled meetings every Monday at 6:30 p.m. or so, in the coach house meeting room at Kingwood Center. Curious? Try a web search for Johnny Appleseed Woodcarvers.
Strine, a retired pattern maker, uses his inspired creation for tool sharpening.
ARTISTRY IN WOOD—
Formed in 1981 the Johnny Appleseed Woodcarvers, some 60 members strong, are a spirited group who certainly take the casual pastime of whittling to a much higher level.
Members show up at gatherings with their carving tools carefully wrapped and projects-in-process ready for the next step on their evolution into treasured family heirlooms.
Veteran members are eager to share their hard-won experience with newcomers. They are equally as eager to tell a whopper which usually leads to a spirited groan from their alert audience as the chips continue to rain onto growing piles of tinder.
Depending on the carving style, a block of wood can evolve into a delightful treasure in an hour or so. More often though, that creation will take hours—lots of hours—until it is nicked or burnished or artfully techniqued into its stunning new design.
“I examine a raw chunk of sometimes bark covered wood and enjoy the strong urge to cut in there and see what I can find,” Strine enthused. It could be the profile of an Indian. It could be Santa Clause, or, a sleek animal just waiting to escape from a knarled hunk of lignin.
Some carved creations can be astonishingly life-like, especially when Robert Holdeman of Ashland goes to work on his fabulous bird creations.
One member of the group works at his art professionally. Mansfielder Walt Ruess is located here: http://www.waltruess.com/. Take a peek at his galleries or his storefront for that very special gift.
Looking for a nifty new hobby? The group has scheduled meetings every Monday at 6:30 p.m. or so, in the coach house meeting room at Kingwood Center. Curious? Try a web search for Johnny Appleseed Woodcarvers.
Strine, a retired pattern maker, uses his inspired creation for tool sharpening.
The hands in the above image belong to Mike Beck of Ashland as his creation blossoms at a recent meeting. The male wood duck (below) hand-carved by Holdeman would be extremely attractive to a live, amorous female Woodie until she finally discovered he was most unresponsive to her charms.
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