Welcome to the M.A. Dellinger Wood Carvings Etsy store, a self taught wood carver for over 15 years specializing in caricatures.
I started carving seriously a little over 20 years ago. My first attempt at carving was using a Dremel that I used to turn a 12" long piece of wood into a fish that maxed out at 3" in length. When I told my wife what I was going to do, I know she thought that I had lost my mind, but through the years she has been my greatest supporter.
I was blessed to have a neighbor that was a wood carver and after seeing my first fish invited me into his shop. He opened a drawer and handed me a knife and said "Ever consider using one of these, take this one home and try it out and let me know what you think" I did and have been using a knife ever since. It was in my next visit with him that I was introduced to v tools and gouges, he gave me a set to try out until I could get a set of my own. My next visit wasn't as exciting, because he introduced me to the theory of never using sand paper on a carving. "If you make clean enough cuts, you don't need sandpaper" A goal that I continue to strive for to this day. The last lesson he taught me was the most painful of all as he told me "You are really doing good, but, if you are going to be a wood carver you are going to have to learn how to paint your carvings. I carve almost all of my carvings using nothing but a knife, only using a gouge along with a wood burner to add detail. There will always be something special about taking a block of wood and finding out what is locked inside of it.
Woodcarving has made it possible for me to meet many interesting people from all over the world as either woodcarving friends or as customers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4lIF8gicIg
