History and Inspiration
There is a magic to the early Scandinavian art form.The lines of the Viking ship are breathtaking.The craftmanship that hand carved the keel,ribs and planking was justified in the way the ship handled in the rough seas.I saw my first blackened hull of an ancient Viking ship in Copenhagen in 1958.Although we were a little late and the museum was closing we were allowed into a large room where the ship rested.I could only stare in awe.It was as if something very familiar to me was taking me back in time.Very hard to explain,but the mind of a 9 year old is fertile ground for the imagination to run wild.The sight of a rusted Viking sword hanging on the wall in a glass case only fuelled the fire.My family and I were slowly escorted from the museum but not before the impact had set my course.
For the balance of my years I have been interested in Scandinavian history and adventure.It has been a half century since that time in Copenhagen and much has happened in my life that reflects the Viking attitude of embracing the storms that come our way.To laugh at what others fear and to fear nothing.My art school instructor Stephen Repa taught me well(way back in the 60's), that if you apply your ability to look and think a bit,you can turn out something aesthetically
decent for others to admire.Another art school teacher I had said most of my art was crap.I think I learned the most from him.I think he was saying that you have to stay honest to yourself,and if you don't work your ass off,nothing much will happen with you as an artist.I have to admit a lot of my carvings over the last 20 years or so lacked any special distinction in my view.However over the last ten years,I think I have more confidence to carve whatever interests me.I also like to draw my subjects and make clay molds before striking the chisel. I have worked very hard to carve wood well.I think to accomplish anything,first you must have a passion.The Scandinavian art form is the gyro that I find works for my sensibilities.
To carve a head from a 3 foot log is really not terribly difficult. Getting an expression that gazes deep within,is the challenge.Bringing a carving to life is a responsibilty I don't take lightly.(Lorraine refers to me as Geppetto)That,combined with interesting Scandinavian design elements that I incorporate into my carvings,hopefully make for something artistic that is also pleasing to the eye.
So I hope this gives you something of an overview that explains why I carve the Viking.I hope you also will discover the passion that will set your course to great adventure,sprinkled with a little good luck.
As I move into 2012/13,I have ideas for carvings that will encompass a broader range of landscape architectural possibilities.Panels that accent door frames and window frames would be interesting and possibly making and carving a full door.Working with 12x 12 timbers and heavier beams for decking support is another consideration.I feel the cottage industry needs something more rustic than the pre-made sterile structures I see so often now.
Garth
Please Visit
Home
Viking artifacts from my collection
Home and Cottage (more inspiration)
Friends Viking artifacts
Prices and ordering information
Drinking Horns
