This old wood wizard in Cottonwood bark was carved a few years back and is just one example of bark carving. This piece is about 28 inches long and is in the collection of the Alberta Crafts Council.
 
 

This piece on the right is carved from Balsam Poplar bark. I collect the bark only from dead standing trees or trees that have fallen to the forest floor. the wood is rotten and the bark peels off the tree or log easily. Isn't old Mother Nature great to provide us with a carving medium like this. I have not carved hair lines in this carving rather I have sanded it very smooth in order to take advantage of the beautiful grain.

Here is another wood spirit that somehow evolved from a piece of Balsalm Poplar bark about 10 inches long. It looks like the wood spirit may have been into some red wine spirits, or maybe it was the carver. No one now knows for sure.
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