Joe, an engineer, has been carving for 18 months. He is building furniture for his office and decided to add the extra touch by carving corbels on the main unit.
But he knew nothing about carving, so he introduced himself to master carver Bill Parrack at the East Rand Woodworking Association (ERWA), of which he is a member, and now considers Bill his mentor.
He has done several pieces, but right now is working on a stylised bird, the pattern which was drawn for him by a fellow student. He expects to finish the piece in about a month.
Thom Weinman, who came to Boksburg from what was then Rhodesia, owns a craft shop in Ravenswood and was introduced to carving by his wife, who thought it would be an ideal hobby for him.
He has just finished carving a Lilly and its frame. His next project, though, is a bust featuring the head of an American Indian in full chief’s regalia.
The project is taken from a picture in a carving book and he intends on carving an intricacy of feather work around a craggy face, and will follow this by hollowing out the back of the face and drilling holes for the eyes.
The full effect of the finished piece will come from a light in the concave back of the face that will shine through the eye holes.
Bill, their tutor, says you don’t have to be artistic to become a carver.
But you do need to be able to see what you are looking at.
He should know. He is regarded as one of South Africa’s foremost master carvers, and teaches the art to people from all walks of life.
The secret to good carving, says Bill, is looking at the subject and seeing what is there: “The way a flower lies on a bush, the shape of a leaf and the number of toes on an elephant, for instance”.
Bill stresses that light conditions play a large part in successful carving, as do perspective and shadows, therefore his new studio was built north-facing for exactly that reason. It never gets direct sunlight, but its massive windows ensure it boasts magnificent natural light. This is enhanced by walls painted in a muted colour.
Bill says anyone can learn to carve.
Beginners are taught the 14 basic cuts on a block of wood, followed by a set piece, which incorporates all the cuts. Then they decide on patterns they would like to carve. The pattern is either copied direct from a picture or is altered to make it more “carveable”.
The copy is stuck to the wood and carving begins.
Students are taught “relief carving”, best described as carving pictures in wood. Wood is removed from a flat wood panel in such a way that an object appears to rise out of the wood.
In its highest form, relief carving manifests itself in ecclesiastic work used to decorate church columns, panels and pulpits.
Bill is a founding member and past chairman of ERWA, and his work will be on view at ERWA’s 10th annual fair at Northfield Methodist Church, Benoni, on September 21.
Learn more about the fair and carving, by contacting Bill, on 084 509 7379.
