Carving a Flat-Plane Character

This Nordic-inspired piece is a study in creating dynamism with a single knife

By Charles Banks

Growing up in a Scandinavian household, I was introduced to many Nordic traditions involving food, culture, and art. I have fond childhood memories of playing with little carved characters my mother brought home from trips to Norway…even though I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to touch them! (Sorry, Mom!) As an adult, I’ve had the opportunity to take several flat-plane carving classes with Harley Refsal. His work has helped me to find a deep connection with the history and traditions of this beautiful culture, and to embrace my own heritage even more. Mange takk (thank you very much), Harley! I developed this character for a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School, which took place during their Scandinavian Heritage Week. The character’s hat and sweater are Icelandic, the beard is definitely…

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Woodcarving Illustrated (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2022 (Issue #99)

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