Wood whittler proudly displays pieces at Westmoreland Museum of American Art

To whittler Rod Cross of Bear Rocks, there is life in each block of wood.

“I have to introduce myself to the wood. When I get down to the carving, I will know what to do,” said Cross, 73, who has been whittling wood all his life.

Cross brought about 20 intricately whittled pieces of wood, such as Nativity characters, trout pins, several scenes of trout and a large trout fisherman that looks a lot like Cross, to an exhibit at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. He also brought along sets of special knives he uses to cut the wood and work with its grain.

His pieces were admired Sunday by about two dozen visitors in a building that celebrates great artwork.

As visitors were admiring his craftsmanship, Cross explained he is a whittler and not a carver because he holds the pieces of wood that he cuts, rather than putting them in a vice and using tools to make the cuts to create the final product.

Cross, who retired from Matheson Tri-Gas of Hempfield, said he is a self-taught whittler who started out cutting pieces of wood with a common penknife as a youngster.

While he sometimes uses pieces of wood he finds, his wood of choice is cherry because of its density and perseverance.

The time it takes to complete the job varies, depending on the complexity of the piece. Some of the mounted woodwork contains multiple pieces, such as one with the trout attached to a piece of wood. A curved piece of wood in one scene came from Linn Run, a trout stream in Cook and Ligonier townships where Cross fishes.

When it comes time to complete the piece, Cross is almost obsessive in his desire to apply a finish of tung oil to the wood.

“I will spend days rubbing it in. I sometimes put 20 layers of oil” on the wood, rubbing so much that it heats up the wood, allowing more of the oil to be absorbed, Cross said.

He has a knack for carving trout because trout fishing is his passion. He is a member of the board of directors of the local Trout Unlimited Forbes Trail Chapter.

Cross has made small wooden trout pins, two of which ended up in the hands of former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn. He had on display a handwritten letter of thanks from the former First Lady.

Among those admiring his work was Larry Myers, president of the Trout Unlimited Forbes Trail Chapter.

“I did not realize how much time he puts into the things he makes. They are really detailed,” Myers said, looking at the trout.

While those looking at his work were impressed by the workmanship, Cross said he does not sell his items, except for a few Nativity pieces.

“I give them to family and friends,” he said. “This is my world. It’s my hobby that keeps me young.”