Large Cottonwood Bark

I received another box of large cottonwood bark from my supplier in Arizona. If you've never carved bark, you should give it a try. The first thing you need to do is clean it. I use a nylon brush and a garden hose. This removes most of the dirt and grit and little critters. I then lay it in the sun to dry.

Access Art Event 2016

I was invited back for the second Access Art Event at the Woodneath Library in Kansas City Missouri. Presented in partnership with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kansas City Art Institute it was an all-day, all ages event providing opportunities to create original works of art. I was there, along with other local artists, to display and demonstrate our art. I displayed some of my latest woodcarvings and worked on a woodspirit in cottonwood bark. It was a huge success and is going to be an annual event. I'm looking forward to next year. 

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Green Lady

Most carvers struggle with female faces, myself included. It is easy to carve women, if you carve ugly women. Let's face it the more wrinkles you carve on a male the better he looks, not so with a lady. I am no expert carving females, but practice makes perfect, or so I've heard. 
I carved this green lady from Montana cottonwood bark. She measures 12" in length and 4 1/4" at the widest point. This piece of bark was 1 3/4" thick before carving. I finished with lacquer and wax. Thanks for looking.