[Donald K. Mertz]

Just finished carving and painting this four inch tall by three quarter inch carving of a cowboy. This carving, like so many of my small carvings are carved using only a knife and consciously using a slicing cut to create crisp and clean cuts of fine detail. They say that "The clothes make the man," and as the old song "Streets of Laradeo" says, "I can tell by your outfit that you are a cowboy," so it is in carving "the outfit and clothes" help determine what kind of character is being depicted in a carving. So it is important to get the details as close as possible in order to tell the story. So with this cowboy, Buck A. Roo, the viewer can tell it is a cowboy by the six gun in a holster, the lever action carbine rifle, the chaps, saddlebag, bandanna arouund neck, hat, vest, boots and there you have it, a "look alike" cowboy. I have carved many of these over the years, but of recent time have been carving other subjects, so while this subject is familiar, yet this is a new carving of an old subject that I wanted to share with the WCI family. (an additional photo a two hobos to illustrate that the clothes make the man or determine that these guys are hobos.) Other photos and carving stuff can be viewed on my blog. Thanks for viewing.

[Iowa Carver]

Holy smokes Don, that is incredible. That's all I can say, what detail in that small carving!

Corey

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Nice carvings Don. Lots of detail. Neat!

[Tom H]

Don, Well done as usual. Your carvings and painting of them continue to be an inspiration. Also, your recent additions to your web site are really helpful. Thanks for sharing.

Tom H

[Arnold Smith]

Don, Well done. I like them little carvings.

Arnold

[Ron T]

Don, you did a great job, not only in the carvings but the painting as well.

[Eddy Smiles]

Outstanding work for only using a knife!

[tnartist05]

Ive always heard?? Great things sometimes comes in little packages?? In your case,your smaller carving,has to be where that saying came from! Just great work indeed! Forrest

[Robert Cahill]

your carvings are fantastic. Of all the many talanted carvers on this site your carvings are the ones I admire the most.

[Mark N. Akers]

Don:
Fantastic job,keep it up,Dollywoods coming up.