In mid 2023, I began creating Small Hand-Held Sculptures (SHHS) from small pieces of wood that had been accumulating in my workshop. From June to August, I created around one hundred SHHSs in a wide variety of wood species. They generally ranged in size from 2” to 3” (5 cm to 8 cm) in diameter, and were sanded to #2,000 and finished with Tung Oil. A wide variety of shapes were created often dictated by the size and shape of the piece of wood I selected to use, and I worked with the wood grain pattern to create interesting and pleasing shapes – ovals, flat discs, globes, and many irregulars shapes. These small sculptures easily fit into the palm of your hand. They are very tactile and soothing to hold.
The very smooth wood surface and high polish of the Tung Oil produced a very smooth surface with great tactile appeal. The harder the wood, the smoother the surface. Each species of wood finished with a different surface texture and smoothness.
The wood grain pattern and color of different woods produced a wide variety of appealing pieces. The different wood species color, grain pattern, and hardness combined with a wide variety of shapes resulted in each SHHS being unique. Many pieces had a small piece of bark on the edge adding contrasting texture.
Osage Orange, a North American tree originally from a small geographic area in Oklahoma and Texas is my favorite wood for SHHS. This tree is now planted around the world, and grows in Australia where I have been fortunate to locate a good supply of Osage Orange that is very hard and display a wide range of grain patterns. Freshly cut Osage Orange wood is bright yellow in color, and then over decades darken to a rich brown color. The white sapwood of Osage Orange is usually incorporated in the SHHS design.
During the past three years, I have used about 35 different species of wood, and have recently acquired more different species to use. Australia has several thousand native tree species, many of which a very hard wood, and I have use only a few Australian woods. I look forward to creating new SHHSs in different species of wood.
The variety of shapes, wood color, grain patterns, sap wood and tactile nature make them very appealing.
August 2023, Hank looking over his first batch of Small Hand-Held Sculptures.
Latest batch of SHHS finished and polished in workshop 2026.
Small Hand-Held Sculptures, sanded to #2,000, finished with Tung Oil, and polished.
A thin fresh coat of Tung Oil requires around 48 hours for the polymerization process to harden the finish.
Osage Orange in vise being shaped with cabinet rasp creating yellow wood shavings.
A Nicholson Cabinet Rasp is used to shape SHHSs
Blocks of Osage Orange cut out, and ready for shaping.
Osage Orange sapwood and bark pattern.
5 cm Sphere in Australian Desert Rosewood.
Spheres in Osage Orange, Australian grown.
Gold Dust Acacia from interior Australian desert lands.
Bubinga from west Africa.
Narra, tropical hardwood from southeast Asia.
Camphor-Laurel, southeast Asia.
Olive wood, oval.
Huon Pine, an endemic to Tasmania, Australia. Oval. Wood has been sanded to #2,000 and not yet finished with Tung Oil. Note the very fine growth rings of this very slow growing conifer.
Bloodwood from western Australia.
Jarrah from western Australia.
Buloke, one of Australia’s hardest woods.
Australian Mulga from interior desert lands.
Australian Silky Oak.
Australian Banksia.
Australian Desert Rosewood.
Australian Queensland Rosewood.
Australian Ancient Red Gum, several thousand years old.
European White Oak.
American Ash, heat treated in lack of oxygen.
A cluster of SHHS that were completed from 2023 – 2026. Over 35 different species of wood have been incorporated into SHHSs.
These small sculptures easily fit into one’s hand.
These small sculptures easily fit into one’s hand.
Osage Orange wood turns a rich dark brown as it ages and is exposed to sunlight. This wood was harvested about 25 years ago, and aged with the bark on the log. The varied color and wood grain patterns makes Osage Orange a very attractive wood.
Recently harvested Osage Orange has a bright yellow color, and after decades turns to a rich brown color. Osage Orange is native to North America, and is very hard, but easy to cut and sand. Osage Orange is one of Hank’s favorite woods for making SHHS.