Here's My Woodcarving!
by Joe Duket
Blairsville, GA
Click on any picture to see a larger version.
I have been carving for about 9 years and started my own business, Joe Duket Studio, about 7 years ago. In 2007, I retired from my job in Atlanta and moved with my wife to our home in Blairsville, GA. I power carve using a variety of tools ranging from a 1/4" Makita die grinder to an air turbine carver that utilizes 1/16" dental burs. My mid-range power carver is a micro-motor that uses both 1/8" and 3/32" burs.
I perform my power carving to embellish gun stocks, mantels, cabinets, furniture and virtually anything else made of wood. I also enjoy carving free form wooden bowls, wood spirits and Native American faces in found wood.
The carved Native American with war bonnet seen above was carved in a Bradford Pear tree limb that was broken during high winds. The feathers of the war bonnet are carved from maple and attached.
For my most recent project, the Georgia State Trooper cadets at the 92nd Trooper School in Forsyth contacted me about building and carving a tabletop lectern that they wanted to present to their instructors upon graduation. I built the lectern from birch plywood, engraved the names and badge numbers of all the cadets, and carved the GSP badge and two shoulder patch insignia on both sides of the lectern. The carvings were done on maple. They can be seen below:
Below are some more of my pieces:
Wood Hood Surround with Carving: I did this carving of oak leaves and acorns on a custom vent hood surround in a friend's kitchen. Since her name was Byrd, she asked me to carve a bird on the limb. The carving was done in pine and hand painted with acrylics.
Cherrylog Rods Sign: I carved this wood sign for a friend's business. The brown trout was hand-painted with acrylics.
Wild Boar on Butt Stock: This custom carving was done for a client who requested a wild boar on his new walnut stock.
AI Basketweave Grip: This project involved carving a basketweave design with leaves and acorns on a walnut stock.
Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion Stock: This client requested oak leaves, acorns, and dimpling to replace the standard factory checkering.
Brave with Porky Roach: This carving was done on a piece of driftwood found on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. Hand painted with acrylics.
Blood Brothers: Another carving on driftwood found in the Nantahala River of western North Carolina. Finished with acrylics.
Cedar Indian: This Native American was carved into a cedar log, then hand painted in acrylics.
Briefcase - Cougar Relief Carving: I made a cherry case to exhibit some of my carving samples and embellished it with a relief carving of a cougar. The handle is a shed deer antler.
Briefcase - Elk Relief Carving: This is the reverse side of the case showing a bull elk bugling.
Carlene's Carving: A carved onlay for a friend's new kitchen. The carving was done in oak and painted to match her oak cabinets.
I was recently was commissioned by James "Moby" Carney, the radio personality from "Moby in the Morning", to carve a sperm whale in his Savage .308 rifle.
You can email Joe at
info@joeduketstudio.com
. You can also visit his website at
www.joeduketstudio.com
Would you like to see your carvings in this column? We invite you to
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