Monday, November 29, 2010

Carving The Dark Wizard (part 1)

This first photo is my basic idea for The Dark Wizard, a companion piece to an ongoing project. Step one is putting pencil to a piece of wood. I'll post updates as the figure progresses.





Last year I carved some toys for my best friend's son, a group of soldiers and knights I dubbed "Ezra's Army." I based the design for these little guys on the Lewis Chessmen, a design I admire both for it's history and it's robust form. I wonder if those medieval chesspiece carvers had "childproof" in mind?



Last Christmas saw six soldiers form the core of this tiny army, and The Blue Wizard enlisted on Ezra's first birthday. I'm considering adding a dragon to the mix...


Also, I'd like to thank Albert Rasch for mentioning me in a recent blog post! I really enjoy his writing, and strongly recommend The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles. Do yourself a favor and give it a look!
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2 comments:

  1. Albert A RaschNovember 30, 2010 at 7:20 PM

    Hey John!

    Thanks for the Hat Tip!

    Question, do you carve all the excees wood off the "block" with a carving knife? Or do you use different tools?

    Best Regards,
    Albert
    The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles

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  2. John GNovember 30, 2010 at 9:04 PM

    Albert, I often use a coping saw or a Japanese keyhole saw for blanking out a piece like this. It's a time saver, but still a hand tool, so I don't feel too guilty!

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