Wood Carver Bio - Floyd Rhadigan

I entered the world of woodcarving in 1970 with the help of a family friend, Smokey Joe. He was one of those characters who fascinated me as a child. He carved small animals,Indians and hill people. He had the aroma of wood and cigar smoke about him. Smokey Joe showed me the basics– how to use a pattern, how to cut out a blank on a band saw, and how to use and sharpen a carving knife, which he made from a straight razor. I used that knife and a box of patterns, and began to carve as much as I could.In those early days, there were very few carving tools on the market. A personcould find full-size mallet tools but little else. So I relied on my carving knife. In 1973,

I bought my first carving book, “HOW TO CARVE CHARACTERS IN WOOD” by H.S. “Andy” Anderson. This really opened my eyes to the type of carver I wanted to become. I carved every project in the book. This made me thirst for more. Then Harold Enlow came into my life with his book “CARVING FIGURE CARICATURES in the Ozark Style.” I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Harold not only carved the way I wanted to learn, but he also introduced me to palm tools. They were what was missing! Harold came out with more books, each as exciting as the first. I carved every idea in his books. I started to develop my own style, a mix between Ozark and Flat Plane Scandinavian.

I began to teach my style of carving in 1976 for the city of Mt Clemens’ Adult Ed Program. I moved from Mt. Clemens to Warren, Michigan and started teaching for the Warren Parks & Rec. Dept. In 1991, I moved to Saline, Mi. where I started teaching a weekly carving class and began participating in Wood Carving shows around the state, As my work became known, my teaching increased. I started to teach at the two major woodcarving seminars in Michigan, CREATIVE WOODCARVING SEMINAR in Cadillac and the M.W.C.A [Michigan Wood Carvers Association] in Oscoda. I now instruct annually at the Woodcarvers Round Up in Evart, Mi. and the North East Carver’s Round Up in Honesdale, PA.

I also conduct one and two day seminars for individuals and carving clubs. Wood Carving has opened many doors for me. I have met some of the greatest people in the world and have been awarded many honors by carvers who are my heroes. I have a lot more to learn on this journey. May we meet and carve together along the way!
Floyd Rhadigan

(As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Sample Videos

Introduction to Caricature Carving
Woodcarving & Painting the Caricature Santa

Floyd's current and future Videos

NameTypeTeacherLink
Introduction to Caricature CarvingsCaricatureFloyd RhadiganLink
Woodcarving a Caricature CowboyCaricatureFloyd RhadiganLink
Painting the Caricature CowboyCaricatureFloyd RhadiganLink
Woodcarving a SantaCaricature/HolidayFloyd RhadiganLink