Sculpted Folk Art Walking Cane with Spiral/Twisted Carved Wood Spirits Faces w/Ivory & Scrimshaw

As we say in Oz, goodonya, Mate!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

Mark do you use a Dremel or just a carving set? Great gift enjoy your Dad whiile you hve him. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Mark do you use a Dremel or just a carving set? Great gift enjoy your Dad whiile you hve him. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Hi Mark,
I have been looking at your walking canes lately and must say that I am quite impressed.

I would also congratulate you on your ability and foresight in the area of creating, “Silly Wood Spirit faces”.

Actually there are three areas I would like to felicitate you on here:

a) You are right about how that spirit faces can usually apppear as glum or full of doom and what you are showing us is full of joy and life.

b) I also like how you talk about doing “something unique by carving the Faces “Proud” of the cane shaft”, and your acquisition of skill level at bringing this forth, and yes I know how it can be fun to explain to folks how you’ve did something, especially when its your own techinique.

c) I noticed how you mentioned adding some ‘color’ as a wash into the wood to offset and compliment the dark background of the walnut and bring forth the spirit faces even more. Almost as if the face is stepping out of the wood and as I’m sitting here looking at that smile I can almost imagine the laughter that is yet to come. I have recently being doing some test pieces with colored pencil on maple and am finding this a little hard, as it goes against my ingrained teaching of what is acceptable and not, according to those who tell us workers of wood, how we should work. Ha! I am getting good feedback though, so will continue to burst this bubble.

Mark, I am glad to ’hear you write’, and how you reveal a part of who you are and how your art comes from inside you and those who surround you as part of your life. I always enjoy it when workers of wood can drop the book techinque and share fom the inside of where they are as humanity. This is what makes us art-fully wookers of wood and just not another power tool.

You truly are a master and an artist after your own and I can only say thanks for what you have shared. Keep on writing the wood you live!!!
Have a very good day!
GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

Hey Mike:
I use a combination of tools:

1) Legacy Ornamental Mill
2) Dremel (two of them)
3) Pfingst Flexible Shaft ginder system (looks like a Foredom
4) Palm Hand carving set
5) Three whittling knives with different shaped blades.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Interesting cane. I like the use of color against the walnut and the combination of different crafts. The father son thing touches me also.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Thanks Frank: I wish I had your gift for poetry and expression. Thanks.

Dennis: I was reading that Frank was working with coloring on Maple. You might point him to your carving projects where you colored your carvings. As you know, taking digital photos of wood objects with coloring using a small camera lense and a small front facing flash is really difficult. The photos don’t really do the painting justice, but the concept comes through, so I posted the photos.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

I just love the wood spirit carvings. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m glad that you do. Eighteen hours! Are you sure? No only do you do very impressive carving, but fast too. I’m sure he was very touched by your work and is very proud of you. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

-- Jesus is Lord!

what a fantastic caricature!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Thanks Oscorner: 18 hours might be a hair over-exaggerated. the inlayed ivory and abalone, and the scrimshaw monogram took me a couple of hours, which is included in the total, as well as fitting the handle and the brass the ferrell on the tip. I sort of lost track of exactly how many hours I spent the last night I worked on the cane, as I was jumping back and forth between a Cowboy Nutcracker on Horse, and Fancy Walnut Wall Curio Display Box, and putting together two bicycles for the kids to find on Christmas morning, while trying to finish and wrap the cane up in a box. I finished up the “night” about 3:30am Christmas morning, and so I had to sort of guess how much time I put in on the cane project that last night. I try to work really fast, because if I don’t, the price gets so high on them that they don’t sell. Also, I have carved those little Wood Spirit faces quite a few times, which really helps with the speed. I added the toothy smiles this time, which takes a little longer, but I think I am hooked on the smiles and will continue them on future cane projects. My dad didn’t say anything to me about the cane, as it is hard for he and I to talk on that level for some reason. He told my wife that he really liked it.

Thanks Scott: you are an ongoing encouragement to me.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

magnificent piece of art and story.
Isn’t it interesting that we each find our own unique ways to interact with family members. The trick is to be able to read and respect the underlying messages and to not let things slip into the “regret bucket”.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

also, which is your favourite Dremel bit (for carving)?

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Hey Debbie: I use a whole series of bits, and I hardly ever go by a store that has bits, without buying more. I work a lot in deer antler, and the High Speed Steel bits seem to dull fast in that material. The carbide ones work much longer, but are twice the cost of the HSS bits. I have found that the extra cost is worth it, and I try to buy carbide bits whenever they are available in the profile I need.

The folks at Legacy Woodworking www.legacywoodworking.com, who made the ornamental mill that I use to rough out the cane blank have asked for me to do a video for them on the techniques of how I make this style of cane. They have my first cane in this style in their Provo, UT headquarters gallery. If I had a good video camera, someone to do the camera work, and some time to do it, I would complete that project for them, as I think it would be fun, and who knows where something like that might lead. Norm can’t keep going for ever you know. ha.

The next time I make a cane like this, I will take some snapshots as I work through the process, and I will photograph the dremel bits and burrs that I use throughout the process.

I don’t have any orders for this style of cane right now, so I am not sure when I will get back to carving another “Face” cane similar to this one. When I get an order, I’ll take a couple of days out of my furniture commission work and make the cane. If my furniture schedule can handle the delay, I will often make 3-5 extra canes similar in style at the same time, and then I consignment sell them at a couple of small retail stores.

I have found that all of the canes seem to find homes, although I can’t predict when the income will arrive, so I can only afford to do them a few at time without a paid commission. Even then, it always seems like I can’t afford to be spending the time on them. I’m told that In Heaven, there will be no bills, and that is just another good reason to hope for that day.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the pressure of being professional in this work, I need the push to stay productive and on task. I can easily sway off task and start doing cool things I have been wanting to play around with if I don’t have the pressure to stay on task. Even then, my wife checks on me quite often to make sure I haven’t gotten side tracked on something that seems more fun to do than the paying task at hand. I guess I am mostly a prototype builder, and I get bored quickly with things that require me to do repetitive functions and parts, and seem to find myself drifting to something more challenging and fun to accomplish. I feel it is both a gift and a burden, so the pressure of the bills helps me stay focused.

thanks for asking, keep posting, I enjoy seeing your work.
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

I know what you mean, about the gift/burden. I’m a thinker/creator person and have tons of ideas that are BRILLIANT… so, you make sure that you fit those fun things into your schedule so that we can benefit from your ideas.

I’d love to see the dremel in action. My creativity is bursting inside me, waiting for the venue to show itself. I enjoy using my Dremel, for the uses I’ve found so far so I’m itching to do some carving with it.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Dick and Debbie, another perspective on this gift/burden issue is to realize that someday you will both have the time and means to do the one-off “gifty” stuff.

My working career stretched from 25 years of age to 60. But since then, I’ve been free to explore and experiment as much as I like. It’s one of the reasons I resist taking on any commissions for woodwork. In terms of my creativity, I’m free to go where my mind and spirit direct me.

Unfortunately, when you are young, retirement may seem a long way in the future, but believe me – it will arrive only too quickly. Enjoy the moment!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

Absolutely great art in the woodworking field. Thanks for sharing this with us.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

I borrowed this Walking Cane this past weekend to show it at the Great Plains Woodcarving & Fine Arts Show and Sale in Wichita, KS. The Great Plains Woodcarver’s guild has started hosting the Wichita Sculptor’s Guild in this show, and since I’m a member of the Sculptor’s Guild, I decided to throw my “hat” into the ring this year. I’m glad I did. A great group of folks, some great work to look at, and many appreciative people looking at what I do with my time. What could be better? Well, I could think of a couple of things, but you get the point.

There were some cool looking walking canes and shafts, but I was confident that my cane would show well in the the “Walking Cane” competition. I took 2nd behind a guy from Kansas City named Jim Willis, who is an extraordinary wildlife carver. Having him win was fine with me. I met him at the Kansas City Woodworking Show this past February, and when I saw his Santa-Staff he had carved, I hoped that maybe he would forget to enter it in the category. Just kidding, he is a great guy, and one of the best carvers and painters I have ever seen. He gives a lot of credit to the large number of carving seminars and classes he has taken over the years from a variety of exceptional carvers. Something I need to start doing myself if I am going to try and compete in a carving show.

The judges said that they looked at my cane with a magnifying glass to figure out how I had glued the carved faces onto the round shaft of the cane. Mr. Willis, defended me, by explaining to the judges himself that I had carved it out of one piece of wood. They then turned to me and said, “we are scratching our heads, how do you do this?” I just said, “that is a closely guarded secret.”

Thanks,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

that’s sweet—gotta love it when you stump the “experts” :)

Sounds like Mr. Willis is a great man.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I was cleaning out my briefcase from the weekend’s show and found Jim’s business card,

Here is Jim Willis’ website address if you want to see his carvings. I’m going to invite him to join us here at lumberjocks, and I hope he will join up.

www.wildlife-woodcarver.com

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

I was thrilled this week to pick up this Walking Cane after entering it in the Chase County Fair here in Kansas. It won 1st in Wood Carving, and was awarded the overall Purple Champion Ribbon for the Fine-Art/Craft Division. It beat out some really nice work, so it is quite an honor for me. Next stop is the Kansas State Fair with it, in early September. I think after that, I can quit borrowing it back from Dad.

thanks,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

congrats!!!!
Your dad must be proud to let you borrow it but I bet he also misses it.

it is a treasure for sure

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Mark, just awesome!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

It sounds like you need to make a carved cane for yourself Mark. Then you will have one for the shows. Fantastic work!

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

thanks Debbie, Mot and Bill.

Bill: I have made myself a cane before, several times in fact. Then, I agree to sell it. It seems that my need to pay bills is greater than my need to collect my own stuff. They all go to good homes, so it is ok. I have pondered if there would be a day when I wish I hadn’t “eaten” all of my own work. But, several years ago I came to the conclusion that it was more enjoyable to let other people have my stuff than to collect it and let is sit around here collecting dust.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Fantastic faces! Good job.

-- Pedro Rodrigues da Costa, Sintra, Portugal

Just to document the life and travels of this cane, I’m repeating the information here about the State Fair in Kansas that I put in my last blog.

I have been noticing how Frank is catching me in the Postings Count. At one time I was the #1, but have excitedly watched my prowess fade as new folks came onto the website and posted. I think the demise started with Dick Cain, and then Don, and then…..........

However, I have been determined to not loose another spot to Frank, so I’m posting again this morning.

For the 2007 Kansas State Fair, I entered this walking cane in the Misc. Carving division which was to include all walking canes. I believe it was the only carved cane, whereas last year I saw that there were a handful of other canes. For some reason, those folks didn’t enter canes this year.

This cane took “2nd Place”, losing the top spot to the carving with the Wagon and Horses on the table took the “1st Place” ribbon in this category. I couldn’t figure out why the Wagon Train wasn’t included in the other carving categories it fit in, but I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining. The difference between 1st & 2nd Place ribbons is only $2.00.

This cane continues to be a puzzler for the carvers that look at it and try to figure out how it was done. For some reason, everyone expects that there must be some “cheater” method to accomplish the look and style of the cane. I’ve enjoyed “browsing” and listening to comments of people as they discuss how it must have been done. It even fooled the judge in the Great Plains Woodcarver’s show last Spring.

Everyone seems to be pretty sure that I have taken a round shaft and glued wood on the side of it to carve the faces in. There are a goodly amount of carvers in Kansas, and many are exceptional. The Rossiter Roughout business used to be in Wichita, and for many years helped carvers get started. That business has been sold and moved, but there are large number of folks in retirement ages that love to carve. I don’t see much of a movement of younger folks though, seems to be too many things to do to carve much.

I don’t know of any other places to display this cane for competition, so it may be headed for retirement and delivery back to my dad. Oh, maybe I did hear of a show in Kansas City in the Spring…..........

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

I recently built a sculpted display stand for this walking cane, with some burled walnut, and a brass umbrella snap hook. I also added a few better photos tonight.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com