From Dead Wood to Lifelike Art

Rick Wiebe, a retired minister, but always a carver, has been changing just about any kind of wood that can be shaped into sclupted pieces of art.
Wiebe and his wife Helen are members of a group called Mobile Missionary Assistance Program. MMAP is a not-for profit Christian organization whose work involves construction, renovation and/or remodeling of Christian churches, camps, rescue missions, and other non-profit activites.
Recently MMAP members were doing work at Tonto Rim Christian Camp. The manager’s of the camp discovered his ability with wood and requested him to sclupt a greeter at the gate.
The work is of a cowboy holding a skunk in his left hand and a removeable sign in the right hand that can be changed as activities rotate according to the camp’s schedule.
Wiebe started carving as a young man. It was his father’s belief that men and boys should carry a pocket knife and know how to use it to make useful and decorative items that people liked and needed.
He has published several booklets on carving and is always in demand to make, carve or whittle anything including; cane tops, walking sticks, santa clause, signs, rocking horses, ducks, yard ornaments and larger than life scluptures of real people. His work is in private collections throughout the world.
Wiebe works with knives, grinding tools, wood chisels, chain saws and just about anything else that cn be used to transform wood to art. He has taught in public and private schools since 1987. He also teaches courses at recreation centers, seniors groups, Scouts/Cubs/Guides groups and camps.
He maintains a website for ordering his booklets, tools and placing orders for commissions.
The greeter took Wiebe a week and a half to chain saw, carve and finish. He has been known to carve a hummingbird from a 1/4 inch by six inch piece of wood in about ten minutes.
For real.
So drive on out to Tonto Rim Christian Camp just off of Highway 260 about twelve miles East of Payson. Look for the sign to the Fish Hatchery, on the left going east and on the right going west towards Payson. Thank you Rick for the wonderful lesson.

Rick Wiebe holds a whittled model of a recent project he was working on at Tonto Rim Christian Camp. It's a cowboy holding a skunk in his left hand (apparently there are a lot of skunks in this area) and his right hand will be used to hold a sign that changes as activities change at the camp. View photo »
Wiebe uses many tools. Wood can be fashioned in a variety of ways and he takes advantage of his experience with wood carving to use the tool that fits a particular task. View photo »
Sometimes the chips fly when working with a chain saw and sometimes it's like a of sawdust. Head and eye protection are essential pieces of equipment. Wiebe also uses protective kevlar chaps in case of unexpected kicks of the blade or other mishaps. View photo »
A grinding tool is a great instrument for smoothing out the rough edges of a chain saw cut. View photo »
Wiebe uses many kinds of wood. He likes ponderosa pine because he has found it to be a type of wood that can be worked in many different ways. View photo »
With a full palette of tools to work with Wiebe shapes this ponderosa pine into a cowboy greeter for Tonto Rim Christian Camp. View photo »
Never use a hammer with a wood chisel, use a mallette. A hammer will eventually shatter the handle of an expensive tool. View photo »
Working with wood can dull one's tools quickly so it is important to keep them sharp. Besides carving Wiebe also sells many of the tools he uses including sharpening instruments. View photo »
Working with wood can dull one's tools quickly so it is important to keep them sharp. Besides carving Wiebe also sells many of the tools he uses including sharpening instruments. View photo »
Wiebe started carving as a young man. His first tool was a simple carving knife. He learned to carve and shape wood into useful and decorative items. Here he is completing a hummingbird in flight. He started with a six inch by quarter inch thick piece of fresh wood still filled with moisture (easier to shape). His first attempts weren't that great but constant practice can produce wondrous items. View photo »
Wiebe is separating the tail strips from the wing strips. Some of them were cut too deep and were just pulled out. The bird is taking shape. View photo »
The wings and tail are almost ready. Wiebe takes much delight in his craft. View photo »
Ta-da! The finished piece. View photo »
One of Wiebe's most in demand items are walking sticks. Some are carved complete like this wolf's head model from one piece of wood. He does get requests for a particular carving of the handle. For example; he recently did a commissioned piece of two monkey heads for two canes. View photo »
A close up view of the wolf's head. View photo »
Wiebe is using a lacquer jell to seal this finished piece for a tip of a cane. View photo »
Drying in the sun. View photo »