A long time ago I made a living as a wood carver. Then my tools were stolen. I was more interested in painting so I retired from wood carving and continued with painting. A little more than 10 years ago I borrowed some carving tools and carved the door for the Angry Trout Café in Grand Marais, Minnesota(above). Because of the restaurant’s prominent, beautiful location and fine, delicious food I received a lot of potential commissions, but I turned them down. Besides not specializing in wood carving anymore I had acquired carpal tunnel syndrome and then other wrist related problems, which made me give it up. However, I got a call from Pennsylvania with a commission and decided to give it a try again. The client wanted me to do a replica of the Angry Trout door but applied to a cabinet door about 32 x 32″.
The panel was made out of 1.5 x 8″ local birch timbers. The stain is fine oil paints diluted with turpentine with Watkins oil finish.
The following photos and narrative are a description of the work in progress and finished.
The steps include:
- original sketch showing the basic composition
- making the panel and sketching the composition on the panel
- carving out the negative spaces
- carving the details
- applying the patina
Breathtakingly beautiful, Joe. I thank you for letting us see the entire process. Your gifts are many and varied.
Joel, the Lord has blessed you with incredible talent. It was a pleasure to follow the progress over the past few months. Beautiful!
how good to see the journey that creativity makes….praise to God for the gift of art