Authentic Nautical Accessories, and Custom Furnishings
Figureheads get lots of attention in maritime museum exhibits. There are even museum collections of figureheads lost at sea. Often, the names of the ships they graced are unknown. If we knew, we could reconstruct a travelogue of all the ports they'd seen. But many ships lacked figureheads. The old figure went overboard in a …
Water was a defining part of most of the shows I did as a marine carver. Of course, I exhibited at boat shows. They were either on the water, or water was a required theme running through them. The shows placed me where my prime customers would be. That all crashed to a halt during …
As a carver, I have had some interesting requests from potential customers. Doing boat shows was where most of my business came in and where most of the oddball commissions originated. There were the gentlemen who were interested in nude figureheads of their wives but bustier. The wives lurked in the background, shooting daggers at …
Some artists and craft people do one thing without variance their entire careers. In fact, some are very thoroughly tied to the form and tradition of their work, and deviation could bring negative consequences. If you make Windsor chairs, many traditionalists who purchase your output might look askance if you suddenly began experimenting wildly with …
The little eagle's head has been carved separate from the body. Why? Tradition is one reason; I learned from others to carve the head and eye first so "The birdie can watch what you are doing." But the primary reason is that it's easier to complete the shape and back of the head when it's …
I The third-floor apartment on Park Avenue had few amenities, including a view of the Kuomingtang sign down the street. I arrived in Baltimore a few weeks after discharge from the Navy and was invited to share quarters with a friend who had a third-floor walk-up in Chinatown. We had a "sometimes" business carving "genuine" …
This small set of "vintage carving tools" has a history. I owned a set of identical tools at the beginning of my days carving. They were purchased at an art store in Baltimore in the spring of 1969. I learned the basics of carving with them, and carved my first eagles with them. They continued …
There are two terrible maxims about carving that haunt the trade. The first is that the "truth" is in the wood -all you have to do is study the wood for guidance. Now, remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is not true. The second one is closely related. It …
The great Samurai Musashi said we could learn a thousand things from one. I think he was on target. For instance, good study skills are easily transferable from one area to another, making learning multiple things possible. When I taught marine carving, most students had no carving experience. I started with foundational skills like sharpening …
Daily writing promptWhat have you been working on?View all responses The shop is overwhelmed with chips, dust, hunks, and piles. There are piles of half-done projects, which all need to be done by the beginning of December. You observe with a sly grin that to do that, I'll be working until midnight every night. That's too true, …
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