The Blackhawk Woodcarver
Self Taught
This month I would like to refer to an article that was written by Roger
Benedict in his book CLEARING OFF THE BENCH. Printed here with his
permission.
Woodcarving is truly
a self-taught hobby with exploring and practicing and practicing. Though
carving classes and book research, though, one does gain certain foundations
of carving. Only at the carving bench, however, are the skills and
confidence developed. Challenging one with new ideas, perhaps taking a risk
with the most difficult object, will develop new skills. With the risks
various mistakes are inevitable, but those mistakes become important in the
process of self taught carving. It is amazing how well we can learn from our
mistakes. Thankfully woodcarving is sufficiently forgiving to allow further
experience beyond the original concept because there is always enough wood
for corrections. A basic foundation of woodcarving is problem solving,
because some mistakes lead to a lack of wood. The mistakes most often lead
to solutions that became a redesign of the original idea.
While in a carving
class we become introduced, perhaps a better word is seduced, to new and
exotic tools, handbooks, and methods. Further, some learners become
entranced with emulating the teacher and the teacher’s skills without
developing one’s own carving persona. A class can introduce the basis of
carving, but one needs to learn what one wants to be with woodcarving. The
foundation of a carving class should be the advancement of capabilities with
existing tools and with the introduction of new tools and methods. It still
requires the carving student to concentrate on developing one’s personality
of carving.
Much progress can be
made with practice and this cannot be underestimated. Practice means to
force one into challenging tasks and into trying new approaches. Eventually
one’s skills will dramatically improve through taking more risks of
challenging projects.
Trials and errors,
taking a risk by seeking new challenges, striving for originality, not being
constricted with fears of mistakes----these are the ingredients for any self
taught activity and especially woodcarving!
Amen. If you wish to
purchase this fine book by Roger, talk to him at the club and I’m sure he
can a copy for you and don’t forget to ask him to autograph it for you.
So --- Let the chips
fly and see you at the club !
Jerome Mais
Blackhawk Carving Club
P. O. Box 8285 Rockford, IL 61126
Open Carving every Wednesday (8:30-11am).
Ken Rock Community Center (Sacred Heart Academy, Multi-purpose room)
3218 Eleventh St, Rockford, IL 61109
Business Meeting; third Wednesday. of the month. Friends and spouses of
carvers are especially welcome to come to meet and visit. Carvers bring in
finished carvings for “Show & Tell.”
September 6
open carving
September13
open carving
September 20
open carving and meeting
September 27
open carving
October 4
open carving
October 11
open carving
October 18
open carving and meeting
October 25
open carving
November 1
open carving
November 8
open carving
November 15
open carving and meeting
November 22
open carving
November 29
open carving
December 6
open carving
December13
open carving
December 20
open carving and meeting
December 27
open carving
January 3
open carving
January 10
open carving
January 17
open carving and meeting
January 24
open carving
January 31
open carving
Free books and Basswood
John Hayenga of DeKalb, formerly of Roscoe, gave the Blackhawk Woodcarvers a
large quantity of basswood and carving books. Most of the wood is in
2" x 9" x 36" pieces. Some of the wood will be used in Denny's
forthcoming class at Ken Rock and the remainder is available for club
members. If you want a piece of it, contact Don Stansfield and he will
bring it to carving on a Wednesday morning.
Don Stansfield
Eyeglass holder Class
Denny
Neubauer will be teaching a class at our regular carving meeting on carving
eyeglass holder’s during the month of October.
You have a choice of a goony bird or a Dragon. The wood was donated to the
club so there will be no charge.
The Woodcraft Shop, Bettendorf, Iowa
Josh Guge,
realistic bird carving and painting.
Friday to Monday: September 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2017 –
$270.00 + a $20.00 material fee.
For more information call toll-free 800-397-2278 or go to
www.thewoodcraftshop.com
September 24, 2017 - 9am to 4pm
1001 Amber Avenue
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54482
For more information, contact:
Ron O'Kray
715-341-2214
715-570-2534(cell)
Greg Wirtz
715-423-0471
715-323-2035(cell)
Rock River Valley Show
The Rock River Valley show in Janesville.
Applications for a table are available.
The show will be Saturday September 9 from 10-4.
See Jerome Mais for applications.
Capital Area Carvers of WI
29th Annual CACW Show & Sale Abundant Life Christian School
4901 E. Buckeye Rd, Madison, WI. 10-22-2017. 9:00 to:400pm
Metro Carving Weekend
Metro Chapter
of the Minnesota Wood Carvers Association at The Fridley VFW #363, 1040
Osborne Road, Fridley, MN 55432.
Nov 11&12 2017
September Birthdays
(that we know
about)
2
Gordy Back
5
Frank Lay
7
Nancy Peters
17
William Trosper
23
Jeff Hartman
Blackhawk Carving Club Minutes August 2017
Minutes of the regular monthly
business of Blackhawk Woodcarvers; held on 16 August 2017 at 3218 Eleventh
Street, Rockford, IL.
President Jerome Mais opened
the meeting at 9:05 am.
Announcements:
Bob Matthews reported that
there had been a break in at the school last week. The lock on our storage
room had not been disturbed and the room contents appeared undisturbed after
a subsequent room checks.
Gary Lundquist stated that
more carvers are needed to staff the table for the soap carving experience
at the annual Ethnic Festival on 7th Street between noon and 6
pm. There are three two hour shifts and two additional carvers are needed
for the 2 to 4 shift and three more are needed for the 4 to 6 pm shift.
Frank Lay reported that he
brought in about ten Linden/Bass rounds for anyone interested.
Minutes of the
19 July 2017 meeting:
Tyrone Johnsen filled in for
Steve Terrill who was out of town. Tyrone read through the minutes. Don
Stansfield made a motion to approve; the minutes were approved.
Treasurers
Report:
John Skaggs reported on the
financial activity of the past month including paying of the rent. The new
coffee pot had been procured and was in use. The club is financially
solvent. Arnie Larsen motioned for approval of the financial report; it was
reported.
Petty Cash:
Dona Wisner reported that the
petty cash expendures exceeded contributions this past month; still a
reasonable positive balance.
Membership:
Chuck Drewes stated there was
no new activity.
Old Business:
Jerome covered a couple of old
items of relative insignificance.
New Business:
No new business was discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at
9:41 am.
Respectfully
submitted,
Tyrone Johnsen
for Steve Terrill
Club
Officers
(815 area code)
President - Jerome Mais, 398-7904
Vice Pres. -
Secretary -
Steve Terrill, 708-0471
Photographer - Larry Clark, 262-9982
Membership - Chuck Drewes,
985-8575
Newsletter Publisher, Gary Johnson 399-1697
Historian - Elaine Terrell 765-2886
Programs - Bob Matthews 544-2359 &
Denny Neubauer 515-508-9524
Picnic -
Soap Carving –Gary Lundquis
Passed Treasured Carvings
Again, as a
reminder, I would like to have our club members start bringing in along with
regular SHOW and TELL items, some of your carvings that you have treasured
from the past. We all have
carvings packed away or setting on a shelf that no one has seen for years
except our spouses. I will have
an extra table set up so we can show our favorites on the Wednesdays that we
have our meetings!
Jerome Mais
Door Prizes
Don't forget the Door Prize drawing
on First Wednesdays. Bring something you don't need or want anymore, but
know someone would be thrilled to win at the drawing.
Deadline for the news for the next newsletter is October 4, 2017.
Tips and Tricks
Jigs and Twigs
Many of you have figured out
some easy or unique way of helping out your carving.
For example, using a red
pen when transferring a pattern on to the wood so you can see where you have
drawn.
Send me some of your tips.
Pictures would help show it even better.
Gordy Moscinski
Dennis Neubauer
Dennis
Neubauer, born in Denison, IA. Lived there til I was 9. Moved to Tucson, AZ
because of my mother's health. She needed to live in a dry climate.
Graduated from
high school in 1967 at the age of 17. Left home to seek my fame and fortune
in California. Drifted around til the draft found me, so I enlisted in the
Navy.
Went to Damage
Control School and traveled the South Seas on an aircraft carrier, the USS
Ranger for 3 1/2 years. Met my wife Becky thru a friend while in the Navy
and moved back to Iowa in my 1963 Volkswagon with everything I owned.
Married Becky in 1973, moved to Des Moines and worked for a homebuilder. My
boss, Gus, was a woodcarver and introduced me to the art.
Bought some
tools but couldn't do much because I could not keep them sharp. They sat on
the shelf til 1980 when I took an adult ed class and learned how to sharpen
the knives.
Started carving
caricatures and I still have the very first one. Struggled carving them til
I took a class with Harley Refsal. What a break thru.
Played around making tools out of carpet scraper blades in early 1990's.
Made several and the club members saw them, so I made more to sell and the
beginning of Outback Woodcarving Tools was born. Went full time in 1997 when
I had to get out of construction because of a tumor on my shoulder,
resulting in 25% of my shoulder being removed.
Made the
Dennyknife tools for the next 13 years. Sold the company to Mike Shipley and
they are now called OCCT. Retired and moved to Rockford in 2012 to be
closer to our grandsons. We now live 2 blocks from them and Love it!
My favorite tools are knives, because Harley Refsal and Harold Enlow use
knives and I like their style and try to use my knife as efficiently as they
do.
I have taken
many classes and continue to do so, I am always open to learn new things.
I
now teach several classes a year on carving, tool making and sharpening. I
have found that I learn from the students as much as they learn from me.
Why do banks charge a fee due to insufficient funds
when they already know you're broke?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but
ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
REMEMBER, a day without a smile is like a day without
sunshine!
And a day without sunshine is, like...........night!!!!
Show and Tell pictures by Larry Clark and comments by
Tyrone Johnsen
Bob Matthews
displayed four carved ducks
including his first one which was from a kit. The four were from his first
two hundred and he is now approaching 600.
Louis Jurisch
displayed a two sided panel.
He used both relief carving and wood burning to decorated with ancient
Egyptian symbols which are of interest to his daughter.
Tony DeVita
displayed a walking stick he
had made from a well worm eaten, apple branch. (no picture)
Bunny Nordheim
displayed three carvings using Tagua Nut which she states is very hard. Two
were sea shell creatures and the third a seascape.
Mike Ritter
displayed his first finished
reindeer. He stated the other reindeer will not be finished for Christmas.
Larry Stenzel displayed a wood burning of a
mother and young rhinos on birch.
Larry Clark
displayed his Tournament
Cribbage Board which features relief carving of roses on the opposite side.
He also displayed a custom Buck knife with the club name engraved on the
blade and his name on the handle.
Bernie Budzynski
displayed three carved gourds.
Musky Carvers 21st Annual Workshop in Boulder Junction, WI
August 2017
Richard Dunphey is getting help with his caricature carving from teacher Dan Haack.
Gordy Moscinski
taught beginning wood carving to eager students.
Sue Watson
completes several wood burning pieces.
