| Q:
How did you get into woodworking?
A: I
taught myself to whittle with a fixed blade
scalpel when I was 12 years old after seeing
an article on carving big horn sheep and eagle
heads in a popular mechanics book. I carved
several in walnut and was hooked, I still have
one of the carvings.
Q:
Who are your woodworking heroes/gods/gurus?
A: I
would say that Ian Norbury the English wood
sculptor was an inspiration and mentor.
Q:
What do you mainly make?
A: I
specialise in faces and figures but do wildlife,
particularly horses. I love fantasy and am a
romantic at heart. I suppose I carve anything
I have to.
Q:
Your thoughts on traditional vs ‘new’
and digital?
A: I
really like using traditional tools/blades,
but I will use anything that I need to do the
job and I like to try new innovations. As far
as digital goes I’m working at it.
Q:
What are you pet woodworking hates?
A: Blunt
tools and wobbly benches.
Q:
The best thing you’ve ever made?
A: If
it was just one tool I would look for one that
would give me several shaped blades in one tool,
like a carving jack and a supply of linden blocks
for ease of carving. On the other hand if I
planned on escape, a chainsaw and some good
boat building wood.
Q:
The best thing you’ve ever made?
A: Tough
question. Some years ago I carved The Mercenary
a figure of the first rifleman from the 15th
century. I carved it in about 18 different woods
and incorporated silver and gold. I had it two
days before it sold. Last year the owner very
kindly allowed it to be displayed at a show
where I was working in Perth and I must say
I was impressed with it myself and in fact I
think it looked even better than when I had
sold it. The piece was just over a metre tall.
Q:
Your best excuse for not getting something
quite right?
A: Well
I suppose you really needed that expensive gear
you wanted but didn’t get and all those
interruptions were a killer and the wood was
crap and your bad back was killing your concentration,
and if you had just let me do it my way…
Q:
Your most often-made mistake?
A: Delaying
saying ‘it’s finished’.
Q:
Your biggest woodworking disaster!!?
A: Well
I have carved two left hands on a figure, but
letting my wife think that she is quality control
eclipses that.
Q:
The thing I would most like to change
about wood is…
A: It
would be nice if wood would no longer crack.
Q:
The thing I would most like to change
about woodworkers is…
A: Wood
is the one of the most difficult mediums to
master so those that do master it should be
highly regarded, and the many who are working
towards mastering it should be respected for
the task they have undertaken.
Q:
The thing I would most like to change
about my own woodworking is…
A: That
every hour I spent carving made me one hour
younger.
Q:
My final word on woodwork is…
A: Just
pick up the chisel and start carving.
Write to Don at: powelldc@bigpond.net.au
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