The Blackhawk Woodcarver
Volume XXVI, Issue 5
Presidents Report May
2021
Our club’s weekly Carving in the
Park resumed in late March and we are enjoying it. We had one absolutely
beautiful morning with shirtsleeve weather and about a dozen members in
attendance. Typical of early Spring we also had some pretty cool mornings
and very few in attendance. When the temperature in in the low 50s and 40s,
it does not take much of a breeze to make it a little uncomfortable. So far
this is working very well for many of us. We are continuing to check with
Peterson Meadows in the hope of returning there for indoor sessions at least
before the cold weather returns.
The club picnic is returning next
month. A couple of modifications. It will be on a Wednesday over the noon
time period and overlapping with the second hour of our weekly carving
session. It will be held at Sinnissippi Park in the area where we are now
holding our weekly carving sessions; and it will include a Show and Tell. So
here are the details: Wednesday 9 June 2021 starting at 11:00 am and running
to 1:00 pm in the area of Sinnissippi Park’s Shelters 1&2. Note we will
start our normal weekly carving session at 10:00 am in the same location.
This is not meant to be a shared potluck style picnic. Each member or couple
is to bring their own food, beverage, and table service. Tony DeVita will
bring charcoal and starter so that members can cook out if desired. Members
are required to bring all food or other supplies they expect to require.
Spouses are welcomed. We will hold a Show and Tell; so remember to bring
projects or carvings you wish to display. This event will be a bit of a
“play it by ear”; so we need to be flexible. The Park District is not taking
shelter reservations at this time; and I am assuming they will not be doing
reservations by early June. If they do, and the shelters are reserved for
that noon, we will have to move out into the grass area or where ever we can
find. The members attending the 10:00 am carving session can stake out space
for the others attending the 11:00 picnic, assuming no one has reservation
on the space. Remember to bring your face masks and space yourselves out;
there is still a contagious virus concern. Be respectful of others. Be
prepared and flexible. We can make this enjoyable and safe. I do realize
that each of us has different levels of justifiable concern and this
gathering is still risky at this time. Each person has to do their own
evaluation and act accordingly. I expect the attendance to be lower than in
other years. We will continue to serve the club as best we can. I hope that
we can capture some photos and text description so we can share this event
with all members via our newsletter and Facebook page
Finally,
I wish to share a thought, and idea with you. We all spend different amounts
of time carving and create our carvings at different paces. But as time
passes we each can accumulate a number of carvings. Some of these are given
away as gifts, or perhaps, sold. Others we display on shelves or even pack
away in storage. Some we may become disenchanted with them, often as our
skill improves or our interest or need changes. I have been evolving one of
my caricatures to fit my desired needs on our Facebook page. A couple years
ago I took the caricature carving class at the club taught by Denny
Neubauer. Denny taught us the basic dimensions of the human head and showed
us many of his figures. He left us full latitude on the actual figure. I
utilized his information was reasonably pleased with my first attempt. I
incorporated a mustache and even a necktie. Even though I did not mean to do
it, my figure reminded me of Stalin. I used him in some of my Facebook
posts. Then I added a face mask when COVID-19 started. Then I added
suspenders and grayed his hair for use in some of the Ole and Lena jokes.
But recently I decided to give him a more significant re-carve. I based it
on “Mini Me”. That is, the new version is meant to resemble me, Tyrone, in a
loose sort of way. I removed the mustache, a bit more wild hair, face lift
with revised mouth, chin, nose, and eyes. I removed the necktie and gave him
a casual shirt and sweater; and finally eyeglasses. So now you will see him
on some of the Facebook announcements and joke.
Enjoy your carving. It is a hobby
for the majority of us and has no deadlines nor requirements. It is fun!
Tyrone Johnsen
How you
got started as a woodcarver
Here is an opportunity to present
your background of becoming a woodcarver. The following questions are
your guide to start the juices flowing for your responses Jot some ideas
down and send them to me. I’m willing to help put them in
a form for the newsletter.
What was your life style or
situation that encouraged you to wood carve?
Who influenced you in your carving career and why?
Assuming you developed a niche, why did you choose it?
Over the years what have you gained from this experience?
Roger Benedict - rjbetti@comcast.net
Blackhawk Carving Club Minutes April 2021
A meeting was not held, therefore
no minutes.
Thank
You
A big thank you to all who
contributed pictures and commentary for this newsletter.
Great job! Keep the knives sharp!
Keep sending your pictures by the
June 2, 2021 deadline.
Carving
woods for sale
Del Lohr of Cedar Ridge Hardwoods
called me to ask if we would let the club members know that he has a large
inventory of carving woods, including basswood, butternut (both clear and
wormy), catalpa, pine, cherry, etc. He can provide all widths,
thicknesses and lengths. Del used to sell his wood at our annual
shows. His phone number is 815-938-2263.
Don Stansfield
Carvers
wanted
Sometimes I get calls from people wanting to have a carving done (for money). If you are interested in any of these contacts, let me know and what kind of carvings you are interested in doing for people. Don Stansfield, woodchip1508@comcast.net.
July Birthdays (that we Know of)
3 Richard Dunphey
5 Ed Vitell
7 Dona Wisner
17 Steve Johnson
21 Tod Wisner
22 Jerome Mais
22 Bob Coleman
Vice Present
Treasurer Larry Stenzel
389-4714
Secretary Steve Terrill
708-0471
Committees
Programs, Richard Dunphey, 633-9003
Webmaster & Newsletter Editor Gordy Moscinski 874-7978
Membership Chuck Drewes 985-8575
Photographer Steve Terrill
Picnic Tony Devita
Connie Naber, Dolores Cascio’s
daughter, wants to sell this Dremel that her mom used. If
you are interested, please contact her. It is still in great working order.
(618)978-1178.
Connie Naber,
daughter
Dolores Cascio
Our academy offers many hours of learning from the best
woodcarvers out there. Our teachers have a combined hundreds of years of
knowledge they would love to share with you. By joining, you will be able to
watch as many wood carving lessons as you’d like. New content will be
added as teacher make more videos.
In order for you to be able to view the great woodcarving videos,
you’ll need to sign up to one of our paid subscriptions. We offer monthly,
quarterly or annual plans. The longer the period the less the monthly cost.
November 13, 2020 Update – Our website is live! Choose from the subscription below to sign up.
Free level
allowing to tour our website and watch the sample videos and sample content
and receive email updates as new content becomes available.
Monthly Memberships with unlimited access to all
the lessons offered. Subscription will renew every month. $19.95
Quarterly Memberships with unlimited access to
all the lessons offered. Subscription will renew every 3 months.
$49.95 Save $9.99
Annual Memberships with unlimited access to all
the lessons offered. Subscription will renew every year. $139.95 Save
$100.00
Wisconsin River Woodcarvers
20th
Annual Woodcarving Show, Competition and Sale
The Largest Woodcarving Show in Wisconsin
Featured Carvers:
Vic Hood and Gregg Thompson
Also Featured:
We are also featuring supplies from
Hummel Carving Company, Beloit, WI, and Moore Wood and Roughouts.
Free demonstrations throughout both days
New for 2021 Carving Contest on Sunday morning from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
We have an awesome RAFFLE!
When:
September 18, 2021 – 9am to 5pm
September 19, 2021 – 9am to 4pm
Event Schedule-TBD
Where:
The Holiday Inn
1001 Amber Avenue
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54482
Admission Prices:
Admission is $5.00.
(Attendees 12 and under are free)
Questions?
For more information, contact:
Ron O’Kray 715-341-2214 or
715-570-2534(cell)
Greg Wirtz 715-423-0471 or
715-323-2035(cell)
International Woodcarvers Congress
Congress will be canceled this June
2021. We plan on making 2022 a very successful show. We will be extending
the number of years from 3 to 5 for carving entries for competition.
A look
behind closed doors
Two recent carvings.
Richard Dunphey
The green object is a mask made out
of metal and the steel object is a birdfeeder.
Tony DeVita
The silo is a watercolor and the
winter scene is a line and wash (pen & ink and watercolor).
Larry Stenzel
