Normally, folks find out they’ve been named Woodcarving Illustrated’s Woodcarver of the year when I call them up, congratulate them, and then set up a time to call them back for an extensive interview. This year was a little different. Since our 2016 Woodcarver of the Year was teaching at […]
And the award goes to… …the woodcarver whose quality of work shows a devotion to excellence …who possesses a generosity of spirit in teaching others to pass the craft along …who leverages their skills in carving and teaching even further through their writings If you would like to nominate a […]
By Bob Duncan It’s something of an incongruity that one of the most innovative and influential carvers in the United States uses a humble found wood as his medium. Rick Jensen has been carving cottonwood bark—literally, the thick bark of dead eastern cottonwood trees, which Rick harvests himself in North […]
By Bob Duncan Fred Cogelow was destined to be a carver. “Everything just kept leading to it,” he said. His father was a woodworker who died when Fred was six, leaving behind a set of tools that Fred used to make his first carving: a face gouged into his mother’s […]
By Bob Duncan Over the past 40 years, Floyd Rhadigan has taught thousands of people how to carve. His clear instructions and appealing designs have become as well known in the carving world as his sparkling eyes, leather vest, and long hair, and his speedy knife and tireless travel schedule […]
By Bob Duncan Like so many others, Harley Refsal discovered his life’s work while in college. But Harley wasn’t inspired to become a doctor, lawyer, or businessman. Instead, on a choir tour to Scandinavia in 1965, Harley discovered flat-plane woodcarving. “I saw whittled figures, what I know now were considered […]
By Bob Duncan Vic Hood’s amazing realistic carvings consistently earn Best of Show awards, but it’s Vic’s dedication to sharing his knowledge and passion for carving that earns him the coveted Woodcarving Illustrated Woodcarver of the Year award. Viewing the highly detailed busts Vic carves today, you’d never guess his […]
By Bob Duncan Tom Wolfe is one of the most prolific authors of woodcarving books in the United States. Tom’s instructional texts have influenced thousands of carvers. With more than 50 books to his name, Tom has taught generations of carvers how to complete everything from caricatures to woodspirits. “I […]
By Bob Duncan Photos by Mark Featherly Noted for his highly detailed realistic busts, John Burke’s biggest contribution to the world of woodcarving is the impact he has had on other carvers. John has been teaching carving for more than 20 years. John pioneered many of the methods used to […]
By Bob Duncan Chris Pye is a well-known name in the carving community. In addition to his comprehensive books and articles, Chris has carved pieces for the Royal Family of Great Britain. Chris shares his knowledge with others and is one of the key players responsible for teaching traditional carving […]
