Mary May – WoodcarverAcanthus Carving Article for the Society of American Period Furniture Makers
Here is the article I wrote for the Society of American Period Furniture Makers 2009 yearly journal. Their web site is www.sapfm.org. They are a great organization that focuses on everything to do with period furniture. If you become a member you can have access to quite a few very detailed furniture plans on their [...]
Intermediate Carving class in Greenville, SC
We had a great class in Greenville, SC. The projects were difficult, but everyone did very well and learned a lot about that mysterious classical leaf – the acanthus. Once you study this wonderful ornament, you begin to see it everywhere – on picture frames, architectural features, wallpaper, etc. As you can see from the [...]
Progress on carving the Kings Head
…and the work continues on the king’s head. It is surprising how much work is involved in this. I am referring to the original one that is falling to pieces from being out in the weather, so it is necessary to get the face expression and gauntness of the face like the original. It will [...]
Mardi Gras Walking Heads
My father-in-law, David May (www.3dstudiocreations.com) has just completed making several light-weight walking heads for a local Mardi Gras Ball. They really turned out amazing. These are the ones you see in the parades setting on top of shoulders. If you have ever seen the Charleston Mayor, you will see the very clear resemblance. I watched him make [...]
Shell Wall Sconces finishes
I finished making resin castings of the shell sconces. The lower section has been slightly changed from the original to fit with the brass plate more accurately. The actual brass plate had a sort of tall neck, so I had to thin down the area where the lower section of leaf joins with the [...]
More on carving a King’s Head
I got a little farther on the king’s head. I can’t get over what a great personality this guy has. The wood that I am using is Spanish Cedar, as it deals with weather the best. We use it down here in SC for windows because it survives the extreme heat and humidity, and also it [...]
Carving a Large Bracket with a Kings Head
I have a very interesting and also challenging project going on. I am re-making a large wooden bracket with a king’s head carved on it. It is probably about 60 to 80 years old, was positioned on the outside of the house (in Birmingham, Alabama), and is very dry and weathered. The original is extremely fragile, and pieces [...]
Beginning class
Had a great weekend teaching at The Woodwright’s School (Roy Underhill’s school) in Pittsboro, NC. We carved a donut (to learn about the grain), a camelia, and then got about half-way through the scallop shell. Everybody did really well, and most had never carved before. One of the students was so inspired and touched by [...]
Off to teach at the Woodwright’s School
I’m off to teach a 2 day beginning carving class at Roy Underhill’s The Woodwright’s School in Pittsboro, NC. It’s a beautiful little town, and his school is on the historic main street right next to a traditional malt shop. It’s always a lot of fun teaching there. Roy has a way about him that [...]
Repair of woodcarved griffin
I’ve been working on a furniture repair for a fabulous pair of wood carved griffins. This is absolutely wonderful carving – not sure of the year, but may be 150 to 200 years old – German maybe? I am repairing this for an antique dealer in Savannah, GA. One of the griffins does not need [...]
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