In the Woodcraft & Pfeil Carving Artistry Contest, Roger Strautman from Woodburn, Indiana, earned a pfeil Swiss made Brienz Collection Boxed Carving Set for “The Shroud,” an amazingly beautiful chip-carved cross with carved wooden linen. This Shroud story was blogged previously and can be found at this link: http://www.woodworkingadventures.com/2009/12/04/the-shroud/. Additional information on Roger’s community involvement using his special talent can be found from this article: http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/editors-column/giving-back.html.
Strautman received his prize, a pfeil Swiss made Brienz Collection Boxed Carving Set, valued at nearly $900 in late March 2010 and put the tools to good use.
Strautman was commissioned to duplicate an antique carved wall panel. The panel was made out of 5/4 English Brown Oak. Progressive shots and the final project are shown below.
And the finished product…
Some of Roger’s other works of art below:
24″ x 24″ x 3/4″ Octagon – Basswood with Butternut frame:
Above is Roger’s large chip carving in 2008. The design time he had in this was as much as the cut time, somewhere between 300-400 hours total. Roger used a vertical chip cut in the middle petal areas, carving with a modified stab knife with a beveled cutting edge, typical of a whittling knife. Other areas of this design were 30 – 60 degree chip cuts, then finished with a clear coat.
This next carving Roger calls “HIDDEN TREASURES” which consists of a 24″ Square to a 36″ Diamond using Basswood and Walnut.
Roger’s design concepts for chip carving tend to veer away from what is in common use and expressed today. He started with a 24” square wall plaque and added hinged leaves to the piece, framed with a contrasting wood. Not only did this increase its size from 24″ to 36″, but it also allowed its original geometrical shape to be changed from a square to a diamond alternatingly. A circle has been cut in the middle of the closed leaves so the outside design would be incorporated as the center of the inside design. This piece uses some of the most difficult cuts when chip carving, i.e., long straight double lines, very large chips, stippling, and side by side chips. A natural finish was chosen by applying several coats of lacquer sprayed on the entire piece.
Awesome job, Roger. Thanks for sharing with us. We look forward to viewing your next project.
Stay tuned for the interview with Roger with more of his special projects and an upcoming interview with Nairi Safaryan, our first place winner with an update on his statue carving from the Switzerland trip .
Auf wiedersehen….Frank
