PA Traditional Folk Art Carvings
by Gary Rosborough
What Is Folk Art?
The general meaning of Folk Art usually refers to those untrained people who produce art works for the sake of creation itself. There is something in them that drives them to create. They are self-taught and many times work in isolation from other artists. They have worked it out on their own or explored enough of the medium to create something unique. While these Folk Artists are not main stream, their efforts have many times influenced those trained artists in their work.
My Pennsylvania Folk Art carvings are conceived and created completely on my own with historical influences from artisans in the past and those contemporary individuals, who are native to this area or close by that have become unique in their styles and techniques. The medium I use is wood carving.
Folk art is in the eye of the beholder …. and the heart of the collector.
My designs have their foundations in Pennsylvania’s past masters and are also from within my imagination.
Some pieces connect with current trends such as a bird riding a pig (called Uber-Pig) while others are steeped in past traditions like bird trees which were many times created for the celebrations in family lives.
"Anyone who is moved by the beauty of folkcraft is in reality being moved by the invisible power that lies beneath the surface" 1. The appeal of this work is in the indescribable features of the uniqueness, authenticity, and the techniques that are handed down from generations of those who have gone on before.
My Pennsylvania Folk Art carvings are conceived and created completely on my own with historical influences from artisans in the past and those contemporary individuals, who are native to this area or close by that have become unique in their styles and techniques. The medium I use is wood carving.
Folk art is in the eye of the beholder …. and the heart of the collector.
My designs have their foundations in Pennsylvania’s past masters and are also from within my imagination.
Some pieces connect with current trends such as a bird riding a pig (called Uber-Pig) while others are steeped in past traditions like bird trees which were many times created for the celebrations in family lives.
"Anyone who is moved by the beauty of folkcraft is in reality being moved by the invisible power that lies beneath the surface" 1. The appeal of this work is in the indescribable features of the uniqueness, authenticity, and the techniques that are handed down from generations of those who have gone on before.
The Process I use
Working with a single chip carving knife, I employ heritage craft skills from generations past to create sculptures and whimsies from figures I draw directly onto the wood or a graphic from paper. I then carve the wood and sand it to a smooth surface. Next, I paint a base coat of gesso, sand it again and then paint each piece with multiple coats and colors of acrylic paint. When that is done, I stain each piece and sign and date the sculpture with the completion period, sometimes adding a unique phrase as well.
Craft is "Good work proceeding from the whole man, heart, head and hand in proper balance" 2. "Authenticity takes work. It requires time and effort to construct it and constant tending to keep it in place. People go to all this effort because authenticity also has potency, which can be directed to many varied ends." 3. |
1-2. "The Unknown Craftsman" by Soetau Yanagi
3. "Craft, An American History" by Glenn Adamson
3. "Craft, An American History" by Glenn Adamson
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