I have carved many train-themed pencils over the past 10 years. The “Big Top” is my most detailed and ambitious work to date.
A train was the first-ever pencil carving I made. I had looked at the carpenter pencil, and it reminded me of a long tunnel – and I thought, “What comes out of tunnels?” That first carving went viral online and led to many commissions over the years with a wide range of themes.
Working with graphite is not easy. The ‘lead’ is actually graphite particles held together with a binder. This can lead to weak areas and even air bubbles where you least want them.
I make most of my display cases, usually from reclaimed wood. I source stylish magnifying glasses to go with them. These displays allow the viewer to see the carving from all angles, which is important with this piece as both sides are carved with the same level of detail.
I am able to achieve this level of detail as I carve while looking through a binocular microscope with a 45x diopter.
Specifications
- Medium: Carved graphite core within a commercial wooden carpenter’s pencil
- Orientation: Fully carved on both sides
- Presentation: Custom display case with magnifying glass
- Status: Unique work, no edition
- Completed: 2024