First New Member in 2019

Welcome Mark Kitto from Mt. Vernon, SD!  He drove all the way to Sioux Falls to attend the January third Saturday meeting (the month also for the annual business meeting) of South Dakota Woodcarvers, Inc. and paid $10 to become a member of the club.

Mark and his wife Tanya got started in woodworking five years ago by building birdhouses.  Recently picking up a whittling knife and creating marvelous little creatures and characters had to be a simple application of second nature.  There seems to be no end to his insight and imagination, and we look forward to seeing him again and again throughout the year.

Visit Mark on Facebook for more info and inspiration:
Mark's Latest

Don Clementson

Long time member since 1992, Eugene D. “Don” Clemetson, 87, of Brandon, SD died Monday, January 14, 2019 at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.  His talent as a woodcarver was extraordinary, and his inspiration as a loyal club member and years of service as our president has been very much appreciated.  See a video and read his obituary at:
George Boom Funeral Chapel

Viking
Advanced Best of Show
2008 Sioux Empire Expo

Welcome New Members Joined in 2018

Bill Simon
Joined in November

Ellison Kalda
Joined last Jamuary

A Time to Remember....

Jim Teslow
1935-2015

During this Holiday Season let's take some time to remember some South Dakota Woodcarvers who were once members of our club:

Bill Witmer
1925 - 2016

Jerry Schillerstrom
1941 - 2017

Gordon Grimsrude
1939 - 2017

A.R. "Buck" Osbonrn
- 2003

M. Bruce Alexander
1939 - 2015

Bob Miller
1938-2013

Frank Orthmeyer
1923 -2014

John Weber
1928 -2013

Stan Fillingsness
1918  - 2008

Bob Locken
 1929 - 2016

             

Charles Boyles
1918 -2008

Lloyd Whitley
1929 - 2016

Ron Schulte
1930 - 2015

Ron Ward

1935 - 2013

Chris Usher
1943 -2008

G. Verne Luke
1923 - 2016

Corne Ellis
1925 - 2010

Frank Gibbs
(Honorary Member)
1926 - 2014

John Cummings
1934 - 2010

Bill Slater
1927 -2015

Carve a Wooden Mask for Halloween!

Looking around my shop for an idea about a carving project for the month of October, I noticed an old Mexican made mask hanging on the wall behind my rarely used hand miter saw.  It was probably purchased with a few quarters by my mother at a rummage sale.  I wondered, what could be a better wood carving project for October than carving a Halloween mask?  Or maybe a Celtic or native ceremonial mask?
The following pictures show how I prepared a chunk of basswood for carving a Raven Mask.  Hopefully a picture of the finished work will appear in the near future.

Cutting split basswood to length

Attaching a base

Paring the Bark

Shaping and planing the front

Grooving Back with King Arthur Squire 18 tooth

Hollowing the back with curved edge of Adze

Finsh hollowing back with King Arthur

Tracing my own Raven Pattern

There is always another way of doing things:Carving a Mask