How to Learn Wood Carving
Wood carving is an ancient art form that can be used to make many things from attractive figurines to useful items such as bowls and instruments. It takes only a few tools and plenty of practice to become adept at this craft.
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Things You'll Need
- Carving wood Carving knife 1/2-inch gouge Carving pattern and graphite paper
Instructions
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Visit the library or search online for books on wood carving for beginners. These can supply many tips and projects for you to try, as well as illustrate the various techniques you will want to learn. You can also look in your local phone book for a wood carver's association. These associations often have classes available for beginners. If you are having trouble finding a local wood carving group, ask about it at your local hobby store as it often will have a list of local crafts associations. If this fails, many useful videos are available that you can follow along with.
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You will need to find the piece of wood you would like to carve first. As a beginner, you will want to start with a soft wood. Basswood is a popular first choice and is available from wood carving supply shops and hobby stores. Other options are aspen, butternut or pine.
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You will need a good carving knife and at least a 1/2-inch gouge. You can purchase these online, but it is well worth it to visit a carving supply store or hobby shop so you can hold the tools in your hand and make sure you like their feel and weight. You may want to hold off purchasing expensive tools until after you have been carving a while so that you can get a feel for what you want in a knife and gouge.
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Choose a simple design for your first carving project. You can use graphite paper to transfer your design to the wood block. Graphite works best as it can be erased without smudges. Dirty wood is unattractive, and it obscures the lines you wish to carve. Graphite does not smudge, which is why it is the best choice for transferring designs for wood carving. Once your design is transferred, you are ready to begin carving your wood.
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If your first attempt does not come out exactly as you envision, keep in mind that even experienced carvers do not know what their piece will look like until after they are done. Do not fight the wood. Instead, think of it as allowing the wood to shape the design. Keep practicing with more blocks of wood, and before you know it you will have become more skilled at wood carving.
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Tips & Warnings
Wash your hands thoroughly and do not use lotion before carving, as the oils and dirt on your hands will smudge the wood. Make sure to start with a soft wood. A hard wood will be difficult to carve and may discourage you.
Wood carving tools are sharp, so make sure you use gloves and protective eyewear when carving. Before attempting to sharpen your own tools, have a professional show you the proper technique so you can avoid injury to both yourself and your tools.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of Bill Owen
