Carl McKenzie
American, 1905 - 1998
(1905-1998) Born in Campton, Kentucky, McKenzie learned to whittle from his grandfather at the age of ten. Having no formal education, he started out as a farmhand in Ohio. McKenzie later worked at a steel plant and an iron and company in Middleton, Ohio. He retired in the late 1950s and subsequently carved full- time for income and pleasure. McKenzie repeats many of his themes which include the Statue of Liberty, waitresses, barnyard animals, biblical scenes and groups of devils. He prefers white pine or birch and embellishes the surfaces with graphite, colored pencil, felt markers and acrylic house paint. He made his own brushes from split twigs and then covered his carvings with thick layers of bright paint, splotches and polka dots.
