JOY BOYKEN



Joy at work in her studio



FEATURED MEMBER INTERVIEW:



How long have you been involved in carving? How did you get started?
Since the early 80's
As the mother of three sons, volunteering to be a Cub Scout den leader was one of the things I did. A project for the little Cubbies was to learn to sharpen a knife and to make something in wood. The Cub Scout guidebook even suggested woodcarving. I looked far and wide for a woodcarver in North Iowa. The woodcarvers must have been hiding in the trees because I could find no one …until I saw a notice in the Mason City paper noting that the Clear Lake Recreation Department was sponsoring a class. I registered my oldest son Aaron and myself, only to be later notified that the class had been cancelled because of a lack of enrollment. But then, I received a phone call from the instructor, George Eliason, expressing a desire to hold the class if we would be willing to go to his home. So for one winter, in 1984, Aaron and I drove to Clear Lake to attend Saturday afternoon woodcarving classes, along with a few other folks, at the Eliasons. The bonus to this was that we really had two first-rate instructors, George and his wife, LaVonne. After that winter I had gained enough skill and confidence to have the Cub Scout Den do a simple carving. But as I reflected on the enjoyment I received from not only doing the woodcarving but being with people who were experiencing a similar sense of accomplishment, I wanted to share this with others. So I jumped in with both feet and put a note in the local paper, The Titonka Topic, that a woodcarving class would be offered in Titonka. I thought that I would be lucky to have five enroll, we had nearly thirty people show up. For a number of years we offered a beginners class in Titonka and from these classes the North Iowa Woodcarvers Guild evolved.

Relief carving done at a Steinman Semeniar


How long have you been a member of North Iowa Woodcarvers Guild? Do you belong to any other clubs?
I am a Charter Member and I think that the NIWCG was formed in 1986.
I also am a member of the Blue Earth Royal Chiseler Woodcarving Club & The Mid-America Woodcarvers Club of Omaha.



Have you taken any special classes or seminars? If so, what has been your most memorable carving experience?
Perhaps attending the weeklong Doane Workshop at Crete, Neb. has been the most extraordinary experience. It is here that I have had an opportunity to study with the nations outstanding woodcarvers. Of course, I need to mention the Waldorf Woodcarving Seminar as an outstanding annual event.


Joy's personal FAVORITE...."Martin Luther"



What is your favorite carving technique?
Being the generalist that I am, I can say that I enjoy a variety of woodcarving styles.



What do you like most about woodcarving?
Two things-The sense of accomplishment I have when a woodcarving turns out as I wanted it to and being part of the woodcarving community. American woodcarvers are very willing to share techniques and ideas to help another carver. And , for the most part, woodcarvers are very friendly.




Do you have any other interesting hobbies or interests?
My interests involve my faith, my family, and other people. Certainly, I'm a community volunteer-plant trees and wild flowers-play cribbage-collect information on the WWII WASP, Grant Wood's American Gothic, Martin Luther, Ole & Lena jokes along with collecting & filing woodcarving patterns (I have three files filled on every subject imaginable). I have been known to go cross country skiing on a moonlit winter night.



Wolf Head done with Gary Peterson



Do you have any advice or thoughts for other carvers? Follow your interests in woodcarving-try new ideas & styles. There is a thrill in creating something with one's hands. Perhaps the most important thing of all-share your talents with others. Pass along your knowledge and techniques to others. That's what the Woodcarving Community is all about.


On a personal note: Joy has been very instrumental in teaching 300+ people the basics of woodcarving with her Beginner's Classes....Thanks Joy!!!!