A bit of Whittling

[Wayland]

I used to mutter about not being able to work with wood. I used to think that as a Metal botherer I lacked the different mindset needed for wood.

Generally you can beat a price of metal into submission but wood requires a more collaborative approach in my opinion.

Anyway, a few projects ago I started to change that mindset and now it is just time that stops me picking up a stick and doing a bit of whittling.

A couple of weeks back I decided that a new storytelling project needed a couple more carved figures. The Valkyrie in the front of this picture is the most recent result.

This collection started with the old figure on the right which I found on a boot sale. I gouged out one of his eyes to turn him into a representative of “Odin”.

Next I carved the figure on the left, largely copied from the first figure but given a hammer to represent “Thor”.

Next to him is a representation of “Wayland” which was inspired by a cast figurine I acquired and the Valkyrie is based upon an original bronze figurine found at Harby.

I need a couple more of these for the project so I will post them up in due time.

I think I’m starting to get the hang of this wood bothering lark.

 

[scruff]

These are terrific. Great inspiration those car boots!

 

[Stew]

Yeah, I can see why you have doubts about being able to carve! They look fab.

What wood have you used / what aging process have you gone through? The new match the old pretty well.

 

[Toddy]

Oh excellent

Don't they look 'right' ?

 

[Wayland]

Yeah, I can see why you have doubts about being able to carve! They look fab.

What wood have you used / what aging process have you gone through? The new match the old pretty well.

I’m not great on wood ID but I think Thor and Wayland are linden/lime. The Valkyrie is Bay from an overgrown tree in our yard and I have no idea what Odin was but it is light.

I generally use a dark wood stain and then follow up with Fiddes Jacobean Oak furniture wax.

 

[Stew]

I thought they must have been light woods to start with as they’re more common. The darkening has gone well and it highlights the detail well. Staining is probably more effective than starting with a dark wood.

 

[Wayland]

Oh excellent

Don't they look 'right' ?

I hope so. The intention is to have them as small God figures to go with the cloak that Debs is working on for story telling.

The more visual elements we can provide will add multi sensory depth to the sessions we run in schools.

 

[crosslandkelly]

They look great.

 

[Chris]

These are amazing, well done.

 

[Broch]

Very nice; they really do look the part

 

[JonathanD]

Excellent. What tools do you use for carving Gary?

 

[Pattree]

Good work!
If that’s a recently acquired skill these are phenomenal.

Do you play chess? A Celtic set would look great. The pawns might get boring.

 

[Dave Budd]

Very nicely done! I foresee a chess set in the making ;-)

What did you use to stain the wood?

 

[Wayland]

Excellent. What tools do you use for carving Gary?

I’ve collected a few from all sorts of places.

Most are usually described as chip carving knives but I find the shapes useful.

 

[Wayland]

Good work!
If that’s a recently acquired skill these are phenomenal.

Do you play chess? A Celtic set would look great. The pawns might get boring.

I think this page on my web site describes my journey into wood carving best:

The Wayland Kista

 

[Wayland]

Very nicely done! I foresee a chess set in the making ;-)

What did you use to stain the wood?

I usually use Rustins wood dyes. Dark Oak or something like that.

 

[Tengu]

They do look the part, dont they?

 

[Wayland]

They do look the part, dont they?

That is my hope.

 

[RonW]

View attachment 91720

I used to mutter about not being able to work with wood. I used to think that as a Metal botherer I lacked the different mindset needed for wood.

Generally you can beat a price of metal into submission but wood requires a more collaborative approach in my opinion.

Anyway, a few projects ago I started to change that mindset and now it is just time that stops me picking up a stick and doing a bit of whittling.

A couple of weeks back I decided that a new storytelling project needed a couple more carved figures. The Valkyrie in the front of this picture is the most recent result.

This collection started with the old figure on the right which I found on a boot sale. I gouged out one of his eyes to turn him into a representative of “Odin”.

Next I carved the figure on the left, largely copied from the first figure but given a hammer to represent “Thor”.

Next to him is a representation of “Wayland” which was inspired by a cast figurine I acquired and the Valkyrie is based upon an original bronze figurine found at Harby.

I need a couple more of these for the project so I will post them up in due time.

I think I’m starting to get the hang of this wood bothering lark.

Hej Gary!
Nice to see around still!
Lovely work!
I deeply dislike metalworking, precisely because of the violent subjugation of the material and at times I felt the metal screaming and screeching at me to just leave it alone.
I never really got into woodworking. No idea why really. Tried it with woodturning, but it didn't "call" me.

 

[John Fenna]

How come the "Wayland" one looks so much like you? Deliberate or chance?