A noble-looking old man with a sculptured cloak and staff in hand looks around with his deeply carved eyes and finely detailed face.

This is the "Tree Spirit 1." It is among the 19 relief woodcarvings by a graduate student displayed at Kern Galleries until Feb. 28. The artist is Tom Buggey, a student who is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in the department of special education.

Buggey said the main themes in his carvings stem from his being "a history and mythology buff." He said his historical carvings, such as those centered on the Civil War, are the result of a lot of accurate research but when it comes to mythology, he said he lets his "mind paint the picture." He said he also gets a great deal of ideas from children's books.

The artist said detail and depth in his woodcarvings play vital roles in bringing the realism to his work. Sometimes the wood is carved almost two inches deep, yet a unique expression is etched on every character's face. These realistic expressions are his basis for capturing the personality of the subjects he carves.

His relief woodcarvings are "pushed back into the wood just like the stone carvings in Greek and Roman temples," Buggey said.

Buggey's interest in woodcarving began with walks through Allegheny National Forest. There, he began whittling pieces of wood with knives, later progressing toward more advanced carving.

He said his woodcarvings must "be put on the back burner." His career and education come first, he said, and woodcarving is just a hobby right now.