He Uses Butternut For Wood Carvings

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #5, Page #10

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Paul Weaver is an accomplished furniture maker and 3D wood carver whose artwork is displayed at Lehman’s Country Store in Kidron, Ohio.
  Weaver, who’s Amish, has whittled his whole life. He first got serious about woodcarving after attending a one-week carving course where he learned the fundamentals of carving detailed images of people, buildings, clouds, and more with realistic shadowing.
  He initially used mahogany wood for his carvings but quickly learned it wasn’t suitable for bringing out detail within the wood. Weaver soon switched to butternut and found his carvings came to life. It’s been his preference ever since.
  Butternut wood is lighter colored than black walnut and it’s soft and lightweight. Woodcarvers love it because it gives easily without being brittle and has a beautiful grain pattern. Butternut also allows light and shadows to interact for a visually stunning effect.
  For his carvings, Weaver likes to use a block of butternut that’s 7-in. thick. This provides ample space for carving detail without the complications that come with cutting deeper.
  He’ll then glue the picture he wants to carve onto the wood block and carve out the deepest features, such as the sky and horizon. He’ll work his way out to the front, carefully measuring out details, like houses, that need precise proportions in order to look right. Though he has more than 100 chisels at the ready in his studio, he uses medium size chisels for most of his work.
  Weaver doesn’t draw the images he carves but instead selects art that resonates with him. He tends to favor religious scenes and classic Americana that depicts rural people going about their daily lives. Many have come from his favorite artist, John Sloane.
  Weaver works on his carvings for several hours a day, three to five days a week. He estimates that it takes him three months to produce most carvings. Weaver makes furniture for a living and only carves as a hobby, focusing on the scenes he chooses with his wife.
  Many of Weaver’s carvings are currently displayed at Lehman’s County Store in Kidron, Ohio, as well as in his home studio. Lehman’s hosts a meet and greet event with Paul Weaver every fourth Saturday of the month. From 9:30-2:30, store visitors can meet with Paul and learn more about the background of his creative process.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lehman’s County Store, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, Ohio 44618 (ph 800-438-5346; www.lehmans.com).

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He Uses Butternut For Wood Carvings FARM HOME Novelty Items Paul Weaver is an accomplished furniture maker and 3D wood carver whose artwork is displayed at Lehman’s Country Store in Kidron Ohio Weaver who’s Amish has whittled his whole life He first got serious about woodcarving after attending a one-week carving course where he learned the fundamentals of carving detailed images of people buildings clouds and more with realistic shadowing He initially used mahogany wood for his carvings but quickly learned it wasn’t suitable for bringing out detail within the wood Weaver soon switched to butternut and found his carvings came to life It’s been his preference ever since Butternut wood is lighter colored than black walnut and it’s soft and lightweight Woodcarvers love it because it gives easily without being brittle and has a beautiful grain pattern Butternut also allows light and shadows to interact for a visually stunning effect For his carvings Weaver likes to use a block of butternut that’s 7-in thick This provides ample space for carving detail without the complications that come with cutting deeper He’ll then glue the picture he wants to carve onto the wood block and carve out the deepest features such as the sky and horizon He’ll work his way out to the front carefully measuring out details like houses that need precise proportions in order to look right Though he has more than 100 chisels at the ready in his studio he uses medium size chisels for most of his work Weaver doesn’t draw the images he carves but instead selects art that resonates with him He tends to favor religious scenes and classic Americana that depicts rural people going about their daily lives Many have come from his favorite artist John Sloane Weaver works on his carvings for several hours a day three to five days a week He estimates that it takes him three months to produce most carvings Weaver makes furniture for a living and only carves as a hobby focusing on the scenes he chooses with his wife Many of Weaver’s carvings are currently displayed at Lehman’s County Store in Kidron Ohio as well as in his home studio Lehman’s hosts a meet and greet event with Paul Weaver every fourth Saturday of the month From 9:30-2:30 store visitors can meet with Paul and learn more about the background of his creative process Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lehman’s County Store 4779 Kidron Rd Kidron Ohio 44618 ph 800-438-5346; www lehmans com

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