Roger Strautman: Lord's Prayer Linen
email: CarverRog@aol.com
Butternut. July 2004
Height: 32in. Width: 16in. Max depth: 2in.
Total height with stand: 45in.
Origins
I have been primarily chip carving for the last 6 years.
When I first started this project I kept thinking of a quote that I use on my business card "All things at first appear difficult."
In December 2003 I was inspired by a carving of Mels Yegniazaryan to try a relief carving with chip carving.
This was a new kind of carving for me and did it ever hold true to that quote.
Author's Images & Notes of the Work in Progress.
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I started by gluing 3 boards to make the main panel, taking care that the grain matched up.
When I bought the boards, I allowed enough length for adding the extra depth bottom (12in.) and top (3in.) thickness needed for shaping the folds. I simply glued these extra bits on.
I cut the bottom profile on a band saw.
I layed out the folds on both top and sides...
... and started shaping the folds.
I did eventually drill a hole through this top fold for the rod, although I could have created an illusion with inserts to each side.
After many hours of sanding I had the shape of the linenfold.
I fastened my panel to a piece of plywood and that in turn to my power arm vice and layed out the lettering.
I used our computer for the letter style and enlarged it to the size that I wanted.
The lettering was a little slow going.
The power arm vise was a life saver when it came to the lettering. With the power arm it took one minute per letter; without it, double.
After the lettering was completed I then laid out and carved the corners.
The lace boarder was an interesting challenge:
I took a piece of cloth, laid the pattern out on it and folded it like my panel. In this way I could see how the pattern flowed through the deep folded areas.
The outside border was done with a center punch to give it texture. It took one minute and 300 punches per inch.
I am living a dream right now.
I entered my carving in a carving show and took Best of Show with it.
I then took it to another show which had some pretty big names in it, and won the Best of Show and People's Choice awards.
I didn't carve this linen with the intention of winning but as a challenge to myself.
Many people called my carving beautiful and I hope so, but now I have looked at it so long, I just think of it as a job well done.
I am glad to give someone else an inspiration to try something different, as I did.
Have you got a piece of fine and interesting woodcarving you'd like to share with others?
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