I spent about an hour and a half drawing and photographing a superb great horned owl mount at a local nature center today. It was a nice way to get back to work after a week in the field.
Posts Tagged ‘woodwork’
Reference Photos – Great Horned Owl
Posted in 50 Birds for Blue Stone Folk School, Bird References, carving, tagged bird, Birding, carving, great horned owl, woodcarving, woodwork on October 15, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Carving Classes in May – Whittling Little Birds
Posted in 50 Birds for Blue Stone Folk School, Blue Stone Folk School Classes, carving, Classes, Folk School Happenings, tagged Birds, carving, class, Folk, Pennsylvania dutch, pennsylvania german, whittling, woodcarving, woodwork on April 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Saturday, May 15, 2009
8:00 – 12:00
Geoff Davis, Instructor
Blue Stone Folk School Parlor Studio
Cost $60 includes materials. Carving knife available for $20
Geoff Davis carves little birds and he recently pledged his first 50 to help the Folk School to raise money to construct and finish our new studio and gallery.
In his unique style influenced by folk carvers such as Charles Hart and Wilhelm Schimmel, Geoff carves the birds that are a part of his life using simple and inexpensive tools and materials.
Join Geoff for an afternoon of old time whittling as he he guides you through carving a five inch songbird from white pine using simple knives and gouges. As time allows Geoff will demonstrate his unique paint and finish techniques.
Each student will leave class with a their own songbird carving and the knowledge and skills to begin to tackle other carving and whittling projects on their own. Additional carving blanks will be available for purchase.
Skill level beginner to intermediate.
The last session of this class filled quickly. Space is still available for this session. Click here to reserve space.
Carving Classes in May – Painting Little Birds
Posted in 50 Birds for Blue Stone Folk School, Blue Stone Folk School Classes, carving, Classes, Folk School Happenings, tagged acrylic, bird, Birding, carve, decorative painting, distress, Folk, paint, songbird, woodcarving, woodwork on April 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Saturday, May 15, 2009
1:00 – 5:00
Geoff Davis, Instructor
Blue Stone Folk School Parlor Studio
Cost $60 includes materials.
You will need to bring an unfinished bird (or two) from the whittling class.
Geoff Davis carves little birds and he recently pledged his first 50 to help the Folk School to raise money to complete our new studio and gallery.
In his unique style influenced by folk carvers such as Charles Hart and Wilhelm Schimmel Geoff carves the birds that are a part of his life using simple and inexpensive tools and materials.
Spend an afternoon with Geoff discussing the notion of “honest distressing” as you explore adding subtle layers of color and texture to develop a sense of age and wear.
Each student will leave class with a their own finished songbird carving and the knowledge and skills to begin to tackle other distressing projects on their own.
Additional carving blanks will be available for purchase.
Skill level beginner to intermediate.
Bloomington Handmade Market
Posted in 50 Birds for Blue Stone Folk School, Art Shows, carving, Craft Shows, The Business of Craft, tagged art, Art Show, Birding, Birds, Bloomington, carving, craft, craft Show, Handicraft, Handmade, woodcarving, woodwork on April 6, 2010 | 5 Comments »
I wrote a bit about preparing for this show. I wanted to share what a photo, or two, of my sales display table. I drew quite a few compliments.
What Do You Get When You Plant Owl Pellets?
Posted in 50 Birds for Blue Stone Folk School, Art Shows, carving, tagged ''Schtockschnitzler'' Simmons, acorn, bird, Birding, carving, craft, distressed finishes, Folk, Noblesville, owl, Pennsylvania dutch, pennsylvania german, school, traditional arts, turning, whittling, Wilhelm Schimmel, wood, woodcarving, woodwork on March 24, 2010 | 1 Comment »
An owl tree, of course!
As I’ve written before, I am influenced by Pennsylvania Dutch carvers. These carvers were often itinerants paying for room and board with carvings.
The epitome of these carvings is the bird tree. Bird trees were often fashioned from sassafras saplings. The branches were heated and bent into symmetrical curves.
I’ve looked for sassafras saplings and only seem to find them in state parks. I’ve no desire to harvest trees from public land. If you have a source, please let me know.
Some carvers made the trees for their birds. This ornate tree , now in the American Folkart Museum, was cut on a jigsaw. I’ve developed a pattern to make a similar tree, but have not moved forward with it, yet.
Other artist turn spindles on a lathe as the foundation for bird trees. I set up an old lathe to turn the base for my big crow and turned to it for the owl tree. The tree is turned from poplar scrap and the branches from a slab of maple that was harvested from our yard. I’ve developed an interest in the acorn form for these spindles and it appears three times.
The tree supports three owls, a great horned owl(left), a barred owl(center) and an barn owl(right).
I apologize for photo quality. I’ll get a studio shot soon.
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