Ken Johnson of Pekin and his amazing accomplishments with woodcarving.
Few people subscribe to the Fountain of Youth notion but many, including health professionals, believe having a passion promotes youthfulness and well-being. Ken Johnson isn’t trying to prove the theory, but he certainly enjoys various passions. A retired guidance counselor from Bartonville’s Limestone Community High School, he’s adept at seeing potential in others and helping them become their best. His persistence and patience served him well for his 40 years of employment as educator and counselor of young people. “He’s very patient,” says his wife Mary. The couple celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in December, are parents of a married daughter living in the area, and have three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
An extraordinarily gifted woodcarving artist, Ken finds beauty in nature, and knows how to create loveliness from simple resources. His interests are many and varied, and he takes pleasure in sharing them. He collects marbles owning some 5,000, with many displayed and some neatly labeled and stored. He’s also a shell collector, with some 2,000 from 550 different species. Details are meticulously recorded in notebooks. The lower level of the Johnson home is tastefully decorated with marbles, shells and carvings. On a nearby table is a house Ken built to scale of one half-inch to one foot of his first childhood home. An original photograph of the house is next to the replica.
As a child, Ken enjoyed putting model airplanes together. When he was 12, he purchased a model of the ship Old Ironsides for $3.00, but found the assembly too difficult. He waited nearly six decades, finishing it when he was 70. “It required tweezers and magnifying glass for smaller pieces,” he says, adding, “I thought I waited too long to complete the project.”
The lower level of their Pekin home reflects shared interests of both Ken, 72, and Mary, 69, including Ken’s restored 1950 Schwinn bicycle. Next to it stands a girl’s bicycle from 1952. It’s an original, though not Mary’s, but the couple enjoys their unique find. Some of the furniture, clothes and toys, including a wooden horse from Ken’s first Christmas, are among their collectibles because his mom was a saver. “And she labeled things,” says Mary, gratefully.
Newcomers to the Johnson home are wowed by artful and attractive décor giving both subtle and definite clues about the couple’s favorite things. The living room contains a replica of a circa 1874 carousel that fits easily in a decorative cabinet. On top are animals carved by Ken. While they elicit compliments and praise, they are previews for the artistic work downstairs.
Three very large carved animals, a giraffe, horse, and rabbit fastened to large rectangular wooden stands, complete with a pole in the center, give the appearance of animals on a carousel. The carvings are painted and decorated. The horse took five years to complete, but Ken explains he didn’t work on it daily as he was still employed. “Saying it took five years doesn’t tell you much exactly,” he says. Considerable time is also spent researching and creating plans for the desired look and style. Ken kept a diary complete with numerous photos showing how all details came together. Beginning with pieces of wood and progressing to this amazingly constructed and decorated horse named Patriot is an epic tale. The animals are made in various pieces, and painstakingly glued together. The horse was completed in 2002 on Ken’s 60th birthday.
The six-foot giraffe was completed in 2007. The rabbit, finished in 2010, was carved for Mary. Ken has never sold a carving, although he did strike a deal with a man who repaired a large clock in exchange for a carving. Ken says he’s never entered his carvings in competitions. Most would agree that’s fortunate for his competitors.
Modestly, he says, “The secret of it all is you take a piece of wood and remove everything you don’t want in a carving.” Most people require years of formal instruction and practice to achieve his degree of fine craftsmanship. Ken was introduced to carving by Dave Kasley, a teacher at Pekin’s Edison School, whom Ken maintains a friendship with today. His first carving was a small buffalo. It’s a tediously long journey of time, talent, perseverance and infinite patience from that buffalo to the expertise he’s achieved.
When asked what’s on his Bucket List, he responds, “I’ve pursued most things I’ve wanted to do,” which is not to suggest he’s finished pursuing. He has a work shed outside where he sands the wood used for carvings; he has myriad tools and supplies, and a keen interest in nature. He seeks flawlessness, but he’s not afraid to make mistakes. “If you mess up one part, throw it away and start over,” he recommends. He also believes, “Sometimes a piece of wood just begs you to carve something.” Ken Johnson is happy to oblige.