Santa Clara Valley Carvers

Woodcarvers once again took part in Maker Faire Bay Area 2024 at Mare Island, bringing a diverse range of woodcarving styles and examples. We showed everything from whittling and chip carving to relief and caricature carvings, including festive Santa figures, to share with the Maker Faire community and its many visitors.  The variety of styles and pieces on display was as diverse as the crowd itself, with carvings ranging from a tiny creation less than an inch long to a towering 5-foot sculpture.

Our woodcarving exhibit was a true community effort, uniting talented carvers from across the Bay Area under the banner of the California Carvers Guild (CCG). Representing local clubs like Tri-Valley Carvers, Sonoma County Wood Carvers, and Santa Clara Valley Carvers, we worked together to share our passion and expertise with Maker Faire attendees; from left to right: Phil Okada, Ken Morgan, Roman Chernikov, Judy Hess, Theda Mobley, Ed Heskett.

Visitors of all ages were drawn to our booth, eager to learn about woodcarving, ask questions, and feel the difference between raw wood and intricately finished carvings. Many assumed our pieces were crafted using CNC or laser cutting machines, and were surprised to discover that each one was carved by hand, using only knives and traditional woodcarving tools. People were curious about our tools, and we were more than happy to demonstrate how we use knives, chisels, and gouges in our whittling, woodcarving, and chip-carving projects.

We want to extend a huge thank you to all the creators and Maker Faire participants for their incredible projects, innovations, and efforts. Below are a few pictures of exhibitors whose work I found particularly memorable.

I wish I had taken more pictures! If anyone would like to help add missing links to creators’ websites, that would help give these talented makers the credit they deserve:

• Mermaid sculpture: CORALEE by Dana Albany: https://www.danaalbanyart.com/
• 1917 Steam Traction Engine: https://kineticsteamworks.org/
• Walking Machines: ?
• Huge round sculpture: EXPANSE by Laurence Renzo Verbeck: https://www.verbeckdesign.com/
• Small chip carving and woodcarving items by me (Roman): https://readNtry.com/
• Robocop: Thorsson & Associates Workshop https://tandaworkshop.com/
• Frankenstein Red Truck: ?
• Lego-city: ?
• Metal lathe: https://LittleMachineShop.com
• Solar Sewing Rover — https://pnosa.com/solar-sewing-rover
• AYAB Knitting Machine: https://www.ayab-knitting.com/
• Mad Max Truck: ?
• Inflatable cuttlefish vehicle: Sepia Lux https://www.instagram.com/sepialux/
• Cupcake mini-scooters: ?
• Neverwas Haul trolley built by Shannon O’Hare
• Steampunk Copper Motorcycle:
• Beetle shaped vehicle: ?
• Food truck Taste of Tuscany – delicious pizzas: https://tasteoftuscany.pizza/

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Maker Faire Bay Area organizers and volunteers for hosting yet another inspiring event this year. It’s always an honor to be part of something that brings so much creativity and innovation to life.

About the author: Hi, my name is Roman. I began my woodcarving journey in 2013, and it has been a lovely hobby ever since. I enjoy sharing my passion for chip carving, whittling, and woodturning through the projects and patterns I post on my website https://readNtry.com.

Santa Clara Valley Carvers once again presented the art of woodcarving to the public at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos, CA, on a beautiful day September 7, 2024. Combining a potluck and picnic, we created an opportunity to raise awareness of woodcarving as a relaxing and rewarding hobby. We enjoyed our woodcarving picnic that day.

This year, we set up three tables to display a variety of wood carving styles, from whittling and relief carving to chip carving and found wood creations. We also included several projects in progress, illustrating the transformation from rough out to complete and painted carving.

Hundreds of visitors stopped by to admire our work and engage with our club members. Several of us were on hand to answer questions, demonstrate whittling, and share the history and present activities of the Santa Clara Valley Carvers.

To conclude the event, we gathered under the majestic Redwood tree that had shaded us throughout the day for a group photo.

From left to right: Roman, Jim, Gary, Rena, David, Alan, Carol, Bruce, David.

It was indeed a wonderful event. We would like to express our gratitude to all who participated and helped to promote wood carving to the public, as well as to all the visitors and friends who joined us. Additionally, we extend our thanks to Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos for hosting us in such a beautiful and well-maintained park. We look forward to seeing you all there again next year!

Photo credits: Gary Eaves, Jordan Makower, Rena Gooding, Roman Chernikov.

Greetings, wood carving enthusiasts! We’re thrilled to share the highlights of our recent adventure at the Tri-Valley Carvers show in Pleasanton, CA. Our Santa Clara Valley Carvers club was back in action this year (2023), and it was a wood carving extravaganza!

First and foremost, a big shoutout to the awesome folks at the Tri-Valley Carvers club for making this show happen. Without their dedication, none of this woodsy magic would’ve come to life.

Our club president, Alan Huntzinger, took the stage with his remarkable wood carvings crafted from found and reclaimed wood. His wonderful wife, Carol, joined in the festivities, engaging with show visitors and sharing insights into the captivating world of wood carving. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?

Jordan Makower was all about the sea and showcased his talent with scrimshaws on delicate sea shells. He ingeniously used his phone to magnify those tiny scrimshaw items, allowing visitors to admire the intricate lines of engraved sea creatures. It was like peering into a miniature ocean world!

Rena Gooding, on the other hand, had her table brimming with beautiful wood carvings. From intricately decorated spoons to relief carvings, playful children, and carved animals, her creations were a testament to her remarkable skills.

Roman Chernikov, with his cute miniature whittling carvings, caught the attention of the showgoers. He not only displayed his expertise but also took some eager show participants under his wing, teaching them the art of chip carving on his practice boards. And guess what? He delved into the difference between whittling and wood carving and gave the lowdown on Tramp Art. Fascinating stuff! See Roman’s gallery or visit his website READ N TRY.

That’s a wrap, folks! Our Santa Clara Valley Carvers club had a blast at the Tri-Valley Carvers show, and we can’t wait to continue our wood carving journey with all of you. Stay tuned for more woodsy adventures, and remember, wood carving is an art that brings joy to young and old alike!

Catch you on the carving side!

P. S. The featured picture of the post, the vine with grapes, was carved by Charles Noack.

David Osterlund, Treasurer of the Santa Clara Valley Carvers, was approached by representatives from the San Jose Unified School District to orchestrate an engaging carving demonstration at the Los Alamitos Elementary School, as part of their Art Week festivities. Alan Huntzinger, Roman Chernikov, and Jordan Makower eagerly volunteered to lend their expertise.

From 4 PM to 8 PM on 5/7/2019, children from kindergarten to fifth grade, alongside their parents, enthusiastically participated in our showcase. We exhibited a variety of finished pieces, both our own creations and those crafted by fellow club members, while providing detailed explanations of the techniques behind our wooden ornaments and figurines. To ensure safety, Dave ingeniously crafted specialized wooden tools from dowels, allowing even the smallest hands to fashion turtles, butterflies, and other shapes from bars of soap. Alan and Dave led demonstrations on soap carving, assisting children in sculpting animals and flowers.

The children and parents alike were an absolute joy to work with. Their courteous manners, consistently saying “Please” and “Thank you,” and their patience while awaiting their turn, were truly commendable. Whether from large families or small, individuals or groups, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time working with us, diligently honing their skills under our guidance. Remarkably, many children expressed genuine admiration for the artwork on display, offering heartfelt compliments on its beauty — a delightful observation for us all.

The supportive and amiable staff, particularly the custodial team, played a vital role in ensuring the success of the event. Their assistance and encouragement, even in the cleanup process, were greatly appreciated. Being part of such a remarkable event was truly gratifying, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who provided the invaluable support behind the scenes, making this program and the school a shining example of educational excellence.

Pictures by Roman Chernikov.