AEXANDER ROBERTSON'S WOOD CARVINGS
Across Newfoundland, especially in coastal areas that have a harsh winter that damages trees that can be quite spectacular such trees sometimes develop burls like two on Balsam Fir trees at Topsail Beach Newfoundland. To a carver, the burls, when removed from the trunk, are often featureless. However, the colour photo are of a burl that is naturally zoomorphic. It was found growing on the trunk of a yellow Brirch tree in Newfoundland - hence the bright yellow wood!. Because of it's shape and natural pair of blaclk eyes; the carving is named Nessie - the baby monster. It was provided by William (Bill) Clark, a Forest Manager in Newfoundland. Carving involved delicately removing a black inner part adjoining the section of the trunk layer tand carefully revealing it's zoomorphic animal-like baby monster features.
Boreal winters can be a long drawn-out affair if one doesn't keep active physically and mentally. Woodcarving is an excellent way to fill in the time between blizzards and the inevitable snow shovelling. As to subject matter, the good Scots advice is "Stick tae whit ye ken, an ye'll nae go wrang." In my case, it is Highland culture and landscapes
2010 is the bicentennial of the publication of Sir Walter Scott's epic poem Lady of the Lake. As a contribution to the bicentennial I carve Lady of the Lake. For the Centennial of the founding of the Soil Conservation Service a series of six panels depicting the history of soil conservation in Iceland. Open the link below for brief notes on each panel.
See also a slide show on some of my carvings
The carving of Rob Roy (Robert McGregor alias Robert Campbell of Inversnaid) with friends and detractors set in my native Glen Arklet, is my contribution to the bi-centennial of the publication of Sir Walter Scott's famous novel Rob Roy in 1817. For notes on the characters see Notes on Wood Carvings in the Library
This carving of my son Stirling is modelled on the famous Stirling Head woodcarvings that graced the ceiling of the Palace in Stirling Castle in the 1540's during the reign of King James V
King Malcolm II MacDonnachaid (better known as Canmore) is descended from Duncan (one of three the sons of St. Columbus, and in a later age, descended from Gróa of Hvammur, West Iceland. He was King of Scots, King of Strathclyde, and Prince of Cumbria. Defeated and and Killed MacBeth "I will not be afraid of death nor bane; till Birnam woods come to Dunsinane"Shakespear, MacBeth Act V, Scene III. Today, Clan MacDonnachiad (children of Duncan) is one of Scotland's most ancient and one of the largest clan Robertson, Duncan, McConkey. According to DNA I share the Y-DNA of Naill of the nine Hostages group and fit in the D
This is the Crest of the distinguished Icelandic Forester Sigurður Blöndal of Hallórmsstaður, Iceland.
This is a self-portrait of sorts when I was a young forestry worker draining the wet hills of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in preparation for planting trees. The park was created on the coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth !! (Ist of Scotland) and it was our job to make sure the forest was well-stocked with matured and is now being logged on a rotational basis.
This is carving is of the well known and long-departed Trossachs shepherd Jimmy MacKerracher. Jimmy moolighted as barber using only sheers (and no comb). If you dare requested a certain cut his response was always "Och! Hud ye're tongue, laddie; ah can only dae a short, back-n-sides wi bits o' ye'r lugs left on."
