Behrens
developed a love for woodcraft as a young girl playing in her father's
cabinet-making shop. She learned woodcarving from a village carver
while living in Japan in the early 1960s.
The Prescott Daily Courier writes, "I learned to carve
with the Japanese traditional hand push tools," she said while seated
at a workbench in her Chino Valley studio.
Hand tools led her to
power tools and a life-long passion for woodcarving. From a single
piece of wood Behrens carves vessels, pots, pet urns, hair sticks,
scoops and "little doo-dahs." Her current passion is Welsh love spoons
carved with her signature twisted-leaf forms.
"Back in the old days, a Welshman would carve a love spoon for the woman he intended to propose to," she explained.
Behrens
starts with a single block of wet wood - usually basswood - for vessels
and smaller pieces and uses layered laminated wood for larger pieces.
Wet wood carves more easily than dry wood, she explained.
"The
first step is thinking of the plan or concept for the piece," she said.
"Then I choose the size of the block and the type of wood I want to
use."
If you are interested in learning this craft Brenda teaches throughout the year at Yavapai College.
Drop by Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery on Historical Whiskey Row and check out all of Brenda Behrens artful wood turning and wood carving.