Welcome to the magical world of wood by Ray Mills, AKA; Bobby3Hat. The very place where I can block out the world around me and capture my thoughts and imagination with expressions in wood.

A well-thought-out plan where there is no stress, no worries, just the feel of that piece of wood in hand ready for the first stroke of my knife.

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     I hold a reverence for wood ... its texture, fragrance, and natural color exemplify the beauty found in most wood.  I favor aromatic wood such as  Alaska Yellow Cedar, Desert white Juniper, and Western Red Cedar. I will occasionally create something from Basswood but the wood of choice for me is Avocado wood. The natural characteristics of Avocado wood make it the perfect choice for a small carving or a large creation as displayed below.

   The Native American carvings below are a perfect example of old-growth avocado wood that is approx, 35 years old. The older the wood, the darker it will stain with clear shellac. The lighter-colored wood such as the monk below is about 12 years old sealed with clear shellac. Each of my carvings will receive 3 coats of clear shellac. The first coat will bring out the "fuzzy's" or raised wood to be removed by fine steel wool.  The colors of the wood will change with age and the type of sealers used. I have found that clear shellac will seal and finish without changing the natural color of the piece.

 

    I have many favorite tools that were forged by world-renowned master craftsmen.  They all share one thing in common, a razor-sharp edge!  To capture the imagination as expressed in wood, one must require "razor-sharp tools".

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    Inspiration for my carvings comes from master carvers like Jeff Phares,  that teaches the fine details to create character in wood, and master carver John Burke, who has made the greatest impact on my carving journey. John has not only taught me how to create fine details in my carving but the story in each creation. "Know who or what you're about to carve" John Burke!    RIP John Burke!