Carving an Army Private

Attention to detail brings this caricature of an enlisted man to life

Many of my carvings center on a fictitious “Scott Family” that lives together in a close-knit Southern community. The Scott boys have been known to live their lives in a variety of ways: from hunters to soldiers. This son joined the U.S. Army and is a private first class in the 43rd Battalion.

I usually carve the head separately. This technique allows me to rotate the head without dealing with grain changes or adjusting centerlines. If I make a mistake carving or painting the head, it’s easy to start over and carve a new head.

Start by tracing the outline of the pattern for the head and the body on the blanks. Cut around these lines with a band saw or coping saw. Cut the side view and front view on the body, but just cut the side view of the head. Drill a 3/8"-diameter hole in the neck to accommodate the head.

Here are a few extra photos that didn't make it into the print magazine article.