About Me
Hi, I’m Johnny,full-time dad, part-time wizard, and self-declared Woodcarving Geek. I like whittling, smoking pipes, & Cigars, but LOTS AND LOTS of Whittling / WoodCarving.
My whittling journey began the same way many noble quests do... during a global pandemic, fueled by boredom, YouTube, and confidence way too high! I carved one or two shaky little figures, immediately realized I had no idea what I was doing combined with a large inability to sharpen a knife, and then... quit. Hard. Like “stuff-the-tools-in-a-drawer-and-pretend-that-never-happened” quit.
But in the fall of 2023, something changed. Whatever it was, I picked up the knife again. This time with purpose, passion, and a need to make Christmas presents when i didn't have a lot of scratch! I dove headfirst into the hobby and haven't looked back.
By June of 2024, just over six to eight months into carving seriously, I uploaded my first YouTube video. Mostly to share the joy, frustration, and oddly satisfying moments that come from turning blocks of wood into expressive little dwarves (and occasionally, sad lumps that were supposed to be dwarves). Teaching and sharing have always been second nature to me, so combining that with carving felt like a natural evolution… or at least a very enthusiastic experiment.
These days, I’m whittling away in Bonne Terre, Missouri, nestled in the quiet lake community of Terre Du Lac, where I live with my wife Lindsay, our three awesome kids, and a slowly growing army of wooden figures that silently judge me from the shelves.
So whether you’re here to learn, laugh, or just feel better about your own carving mistakes, welcome. You’re in good company and if you haven’t stropped yet today, consider this your friendly reminder! ;)
If you're ever in the Bonne Terre missouri area on a Monday evening around 6pm, swing by the Leadbelt Woodcarving club at the Art & Creativity Center in Bonne Terre and you'll probably find me, elbow deep in sharing the hobby with as many people as i can!
Consistently working on improving...
I’m not one to sit still when it comes to woodcarving. Every project I finish just fuels the urge to push further and do better. I’m constantly working on my skills, refining techniques, and exploring new ideas with every chip and cut. If there’s a class available, I’m signing up. If there’s a method I haven’t tried, I’m reading up and giving it a shot. Carving is one of those crafts where you never really “arrive” there’s always another edge to sharpen, another detail to master.
I spend as much time as possible practicing, experimenting, and learning from others in the carving community. Whether it's anatomy, stylization, tool control, or finishing, I’m always aiming to improve. I believe that progress comes from repetition and curiosity, not perfection. Some days that looks like hours of carving at my desk. Other days it's reading carving books, studying, or watching a tutorial from someone better than me at whatever technique, or area of carving it is. It all adds up.
The goal isn’t just to make better carvings. It’s to be a better carver. One project at a time, one mistake at a time, I’m moving forward. That’s the path I’m on, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
