A Fun Inner-Club Competition

[Ed Redwine]

Recently our local club, the Great Plains Woodcarvers (Wichita, KS) held an inner club competition designed to stimulate some interest and get some of our people involved in a fun project.

Simply called a 2x2x4 Competition, the carver was challenged to carve anything out of a 2x2x4 inch piece of wood. Any finish was acceptable. The kicker was the carving had to have a base made from the same piece of wood. Carvers were given sixty days to do the work. Work had to be original, no patterns allowed. Carvers were allowed to cut the wood into pieces as they desired to create their masterpieces. Club members voted to reveal a winner.

As expected, there were some outstanding examples of the art. Bob Munroe won the competition with a nicely done tiny Red Breasted Nuthatch. Floyd Fletcher was creative by using his block to create a fish, including habitat from the same piece. Floyd also cut another block into pieces and and made a snake over a foot long! The pictures will show the bird and fish and the first picture is the group overall. In all 9 entries with two disqualified because of the lack of a base.

The winner received a nice certificate suitable for framing.

Challenge your club members and have your own 2x2x4 contest.

Ed

[Sharon of the Dell]

ED, sounds like a fun contest! Neat carvings done! Thanks for sharing.....sharon

[Mottles]

Hi Ed, what a great idea! Our carving club the Prescott Wood Bee Carvers I think would have a good time with this project. I'm going to present your idea to the club at our end of the month meeting. I'll let you know what they decide.
During County Fair time, we present a carving contest open to all interested persons attending the Fair. The contestant's are given the same size 1" x 1" x 4" basswood block, given the theme and then they carve something that fits the theme. Example last year was a fruit or vegatable. Also, you have 2 hours in which to complete the carving. It was great fun for all.

Thanks again for sharing,
Kathy

[Robert Cahill]

ED,
Looks like a fun project and some nice carvings. I kind of like the watch dog but they are all good

[Ed Redwine]

Hi Sharon, Kathy and Robert: All the carvings had their own special provenance, and yes the "Watch Dog" was unique. I did the Indian and used part of the block to make the feathers.
The beauty of such a contest is that is can be based on different size blocks, themes, finishes. The club just simply needs to make some basic rules. Certificates are easy to create and make a nice prize.
Ed