As you can see from my photograph, I have two loyalties; Scotland and Canada. Although I have lived in Canada for close to 2/3 of my life, I have very strong ties to 'auld Scotia".
My name is Bill Manson (WHM) an ex-patriot Scot from Gourock now living in Waterloo On. I have been working in wood for six years now. Prior to my love affair with wood I used watercolour paint to fulfill my artistic needs but gave up the brushes when Jack Vettriano's The Singing Butler sold for only 744800 pounds sterling.
A chance visit to Kincardine On. changed my life forever. In a store window I spied a pipe band of over forty pipers and drummers eight inches tall and all carved out of wood. This discovery was put into my hard drive and when spare time became more available I bought my first knives, wood and “how to” books. I have taken a few classes from such notable carvers as Elton Humphreys, Tom Wolfe and Wayne Boniface. I am looking forward to a Marv Kaisersatt class in September.
Most of the carvings are made from Basswood , painted with a wash of acrylic paint (white is applied undiluted to eyes and teeth) and sealed with boiled linseed oil.
I sell some and give some away to friends and family who cannot hurt my feelings by refusing them. My grandsons have enough to open a store.
