| Project by Dennis Zongker | posted 11-15-2010 10:40 PM | 12594 views | 32 times favorited | 68 comments |  |
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“Who Is the Green Man?
The “Green Man” is the symbol of an ancient character of Nature, recognized and respected by many civilizations and adopted by many religions. His name means the “Green One’ he is the voice of inspiration to the hopeful and committed artist.
The sign of his presence is the ability to work or experience with tireless enthusiasm beyond one’s normal capacities. In this there may be a link across cultures; one reason for the enthusiasm of the medieval sculptors for the Green Man may be that he was the source of inspiration.”He is the symbol of the eternal cycle of Nature, the mysterious figure who dies and is reborn each year.
He is a part of interwoven beliefs and customs associated with planting and sowing, with harvest and the autumn the seeming death of Nature in winter, followed by the miracle of rebirth in the spring.
Every culture has a tale about a spirit that lives in the forest or in the trees. In ancient Europe this spirit represented the new life of spring… the voice of the primordial forest. The Green Man or Foliate Head are just two of many names given to the representations of this forest spirit.
My carving of “Green Man” is 3 1/2” Thick x 14” Wide x 17 1/2” Long, made out of Basswood. There are so many different styles of green man. This is a similar style of a green man that Chris Pye made. Mine is about 35% different. I mostly changed the Eye’s, Nose, Chin, and Mouth. I kept the leaves about the same because I really like the free flowing form. Thanks for looking & Happy Woodworking!
-- Dennis Zongker
68 comments so far
dakremer
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2746 posts in 3600 days
#1 posted 11-15-2010 10:52 PM
wow man, that is incredible! The attention to detail is amazing! I could never imagine making some like this out of wood (or any material..haha) thanks for sharing!!
out of curiosity, is this for sale? and IF it were, what would some like this cost?
-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!
helluvawreck
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32086 posts in 3375 days
#2 posted 11-15-2010 10:55 PM
This is a beautiful carving of a green man, Dennis. You have done such a wonderful job on this that it’s almost hard to put my feelings into words. It’s outstanding!
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
Lee A. Jesberger
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6866 posts in 4488 days
#3 posted 11-15-2010 10:58 PM
Outstanding work Dennis!!!!!!!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Spoontaneous
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1337 posts in 3838 days
#4 posted 11-15-2010 10:58 PM
It could not have turned out any better than this. Remarkable! Well worth the wait. Loads of character and personality. Major props! (the photography hasn’t gone unnoticed either)
-- I just got done cutting three boards and all four of them were too short. (true story)
reggiek
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2240 posts in 3779 days
#5 posted 11-15-2010 11:01 PM
Excellent….I love those. I am planning on making a few more for garden art…..I have several on bowls and plates….but your piece really has character…the face is amazing….Very fine carving….great details.
-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!
branch
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1142 posts in 3663 days
#6 posted 11-15-2010 11:01 PM
hi that is beautiful amazing fantastic i wish i could carve half as good as you
love the storey never heard it before
thanks for sharing
branch
chewbuddy13
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150 posts in 3794 days
#7 posted 11-15-2010 11:05 PM
It’s both creepy and awsome at the same time
Charles Maxwell
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1099 posts in 4316 days
#8 posted 11-15-2010 11:16 PM
awesome as usual!
-- Max the "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com
MichaelA
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778 posts in 3397 days
#9 posted 11-15-2010 11:16 PM
That is a beautiful and professional carving of a green man Dennis.
Only years of experience and a natural God given talent can produce
such wonderful works of art.
-- The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. "Helen Keller"
Eric_S
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1565 posts in 3704 days
#10 posted 11-15-2010 11:17 PM
That is an incredible carving Dennis! Amazing work.
-- - Eric Noblesville, IN
PopsHuckster
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170 posts in 3580 days
#11 posted 11-15-2010 11:23 PM
Excellet…I’ve always wanted to try one of these. I even bought a book with different versions in to get ideas. What did you finally finish it with?
-- Pop
jockmike2
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10635 posts in 4755 days
#12 posted 11-15-2010 11:42 PM
WOW DENNIS, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, JUST AMAZING. LIKE ALL YOUR WORK IT INSPIRES US ALL TO ATTAIN HIGHER GOALS. WE CAN ONLY DREAM TO COME THIS CLOSE TO GREATNESS. GOD BLESS, MIKE
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
mtnwild
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3474 posts in 4036 days
#13 posted 11-15-2010 11:46 PM
That’s a good one. Masterfully done. Of coarse….
Never heard the story before. Cool.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
bhack
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349 posts in 4229 days
#14 posted 11-15-2010 11:50 PM
I concur with all the above and more. You are one of the ones that keep me visiting this site.
-- Bill - If I knew GRANDKIDS were so much fun I would have had them first.
Chip
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1904 posts in 4601 days
#15 posted 11-15-2010 11:53 PM
What can I say that hasn’t already been said. Amazing work Dennis.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt!
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