| Ernest Sherrill Transforms Lifelong Hobby Of Whittling Into Artistry |
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By JOEL McNEECE Ernest Sherrill has been an avid whittler all his life. "I've been whittling since I was old enough to lose my dad's pocket knives," said Sherrill, a retired policeman from Nashville who moved 11 months ago with his wife Helen to the Derma area. His lifelong hobby quickly transformed into artistry with a subtle act of encouragement from his wife. "One night she asked me to carve her something rather than just leaving a pile of shavings in the floor," Sherrill said. He joined a few carving clubs in the Nashville area and quickly began teaching himself the art of wood carving. Over the past decade,  Sherrill has won countless awards for his work, which has also been featured on the cover of "Chip Chats" magazine – a popular publication in the carving world."I consider whatever talent I have as God given," Sherrill said. "I just supplied some effort." Sherrill was raised in Davidson County, Tenn. He worked as a civil defense worker before joining the Nashville police department where he remained for nearly 30 years. He retired in 1998 and he and his wife of 43 years, who have no children, decided to move to Calhoun County last year to be closer to family. Among their local family members are Billy Wayne Parker, Joyce Fleming and Debbie Parker. Sherrill established a studio/gallery in their home on Duncan Hill Road where he continues to work on his art. "I carve every day from an hour to five or six hours," Sherrill said. A hand carved sign in the studio reads "A place to piddle, putter and ponder." Sherrill's studio is filled with unique products of his work that indicate a lot more than ‘piddling’ is taking place. One wall features a variety of pieces including relief (cutting into the wood to make the subject stand out), chip (removing chips of wood to make a decorative design), bowls, and Welch love spoons. Sherrill also "turns" little pieces of wood and claims to "piddle with gourds." His idea of "piddling" are gourds transformed into elaborately carved baskets.  The carved pieces cover a wide array of subjects. He has tiny deer, large heraldry and crests, signs and lettering, and different kinds of egg shells delicately carved into decorative pieces."It's therapy for me," Sherrill said of the time at his work bench. Bass wood is his personal favorite for carving, but he also works with butternut, walnut, mahogany, or anything else he comes across. "I carve whatever stands still," Sherrill said. One of the larger pieces on his wall is a patriotic piece featuring an eagle. "I've got more than 300 hours in that eagle," Sherrill said. It paid off with earning him numerous awards and the cover of "Chip Chats." "That would definitely be one of my favorite pieces," Sherrill admitted. He's become a collector of wood carving tools as well with neatly organized compartments of every blade imagineable for every kind of cut. He uses the many tools to perfect his work. "I'm a picky old man," Sherrill said. "I don't like rough work." Sherrill gladly opens his doors to the public to see his work. He only asks that you call ahead. "I may have to sweep up some of the shavings," Sherrill said with a grin. He hopes to establish a wood carving club in Calhoun County as he meets more people interested in the craft. Currently, the closest clubs are in Southaven and Jackson. Sherrill is scheduled to conduct a demonstration of his artistry and display some of his work at a Oct. 27 program at the multi-purpose center in Pittsboro. "I've met a lot of wonderful people through carving," Sherrill said. "It's a great creative outlet I love to share." |