My interest in carving started in the mid 1970s while vacationing in the Branson, MO area. My daddy had a great interest in grandfather clocks and went to a clock store just outside of Branson in Reeds Springs, MO to admire their clocks. On one visit there I discovered they had some woodcarvers in the back and I watched them while daddy talked clocks up front. I bought me a set of chisels and a Harold Enlow book and got started. I'm still carving and have some of the chisels from that set that I use nearly everyday. All the carvers in that area seem so helpful and I learned a lot just standing there and watching.

After several more books and years of self-teaching, I found out that carving classes were offered at the Woodcarving Rendevous in Branson so I went up there and took classes. I found that my teaching up until then was somewhat lacking to say the least. I remember taking classes from Gerald Sears, Harold Enlow, Fred Carrington, Janet Cordell, Vicki Branson, Jon Henry Thompson and Jeff Phares.

I enjoy carving and mostly carve people, though lately I have started carving some animals. I usually carve butternut, basswood and catalpa but have tried cedar, walnut and cypress.

For several years I displayed at Six Flags over Texas during their Heritage Festival and met Larry Stegall who is a true wood carving ambassador. He lives about 60 miles from me so I've learned quite a bit from him. He also got me involved in displaying at the Syrup Festival in Henderson, TX each November. I've show my work at the Red River Revel in Shreveport and am scheduled to be there again this year. I've done several other local shows. I enjoy them because of the interaction with people. A lot of people will say that I must be a patient person to carve but I really don't see myself that way. I think of it as more therapeutic for me than a work of patience.

I carve a lot of Santas, but I like to carve almost anything. I just really like carving.

Basswood mantle with fall oak leaves and acorns

A local horse trader I did as a commission out of basswood

An unfinished Santa bust from sassafras

A group of Santas

A basswood business card holder

A basswood cowboy

A group of catalpa Santa limbs

A basswood caricature horse

An 18” catalpa St. Nick

A group of basswood bottlestoppers

A basswood Cowboy Santa

A small basswood cowboy bust

Kevin can be reached directly via email at kevinmalone@consolidated.net . You can also visit his website at kevinmaloneart.com .