My feature woodcarving article!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

My feature woodcarving article!

Wood Carving Illustrated, Summer 2009 issue

I still have to pinch myself when I open up the summer issue of Wood Carving Illustrated magazine. It's hard to believe that I was published in a magazine that I've been a loyal subscriber to since issue #2 and most of all I was proud to appear in the same magazine that has showcased such pros over the years as Tom Wolfe, Ian Norbury, E.J. Tangerman, Mike Shipley, Lora Irish, and so many other accomplished carvers that would take a small booklet to mention them all. While I don't acclaim to have achieved a level of carving perfection as those mentioned, I have developed my own level of expertise which mainly has it's foundation laid in a love for teaching kids how to discover the joys of carving.

I sure hope that you enjoy the article which centers around the teaching methods that I've used over the last nearly 30 years helping at-risk kids learn to carve. You can get a glimpse of the article here: http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/issue47/Sharing-the-Joy-of-Carving-Wood.php but they've been available at the newsstand since May 26th.

2 comments:

Buzz Saw, The Rockler Woodworking and Hardware BlogJune 8, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Congrats on the article! It's a great thing that you're doing, getting these kids involved in something that can give them confidence and skills, and that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
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mtngoatJune 29, 2009 at 8:53 AM
In the current issue of WCI you have a picture of a Slip Bark Whistle. In the picture it looks like the chamber has been drilled out, was it? If not how do you have so much material surrounding the sound chamber. The ones I do only have the bark surrounding the sound chamber so when it dries out the whistle is no longer any good. I make these for my nephew when we go hiking and neighborhood children when I can but they don't last, just looking for some help.

Thanks
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About my blog...

1. Woodcarving/Woodwork: Working wood has been a lifetime obsession for me and I enjoy sharing what I know. It is my belief that hands-on and experiential learning has a direct and profound effect on the development of a child's intellect, confidence, and character. Projects of mine (and my students) will be posted as they progress and I will occasionally include a video tutorial. All of my videos can be found here .

2. Bushcraft/Primitive Living Skills: Finding ways to live closer to the land has always fascinated me. Whether it's building a shelter, fire starting, animal tracking, or just making rustic furniture... you'll eventually see some of it here.

3. Long Distance backpacking, canoeing, & bicycling: Some of my long distance adventures include thru-hiking the 2,600 mile Pacific Crest Trail, Mexico to Canada and I solo paddled the 1,800 mile Yukon river across northwest Canada and Alaska to the Bering sea. More detailed accounts of these and many other adventures can be found here

4. Sustainable Living: I'm always looking for better ways to do more by using less. It's not so much an "environmental" thing to me as it is a quest for personal independence from material things and finding a path to more substantive living .

5. Scouting Activity: As a scoutmaster of 6 years (and currently assistant scoutmaster) I'm actively involved with the troop and "Order of the Arrow" where it is a joy to volunteer hundreds of hours each year because investing in the next generation insures a better tomorrow for everyone. In an era when most schools don't value hands-on learning, outdoor education, and the arts... scouting soars in meeting these critical experiences for boys.

6. Profiles: Behind everyone's success you can usually find a trail of some very significant mentors and teachers along the way. And sometimes you don't completely understand how someone affected your life for the better until many years later. You'll find some of those stories here.

Sunday, June 7, 2009