How to Carve Kachina Dolls
The making of Kachina dolls is a traditional Hopi art. Kachina dolls are not toys, but are representations of the spirits of nature and of ancestors. The Kachinas, represented by Hopi men dressed in the costumes of these spirits, make appearances throughout the year in Kachina dances. These are religious ceremonies meant to insure harmony between the Hopi people and the elements of nature that surround them. Because the Hopi live in the southwest, the materials used for traditional Kachina dolls can be found in this region. When making a modern Kachina doll, you can be as traditional or as creative as you like in your materials and design. Though a truly authentic Kachina doll can only be carved by a member of the Hopi tribe, learning about the Kachina cult and traditional Hopi beliefs can help you to better relate to this ancient tradition, regardless of your ancestry.
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Things You'll Need
- Woodcarving instructor
- Kachina doll examples, pictures, and diagrams
- Carving tools
- Inexpensive practice wood
- Cottonwood root or other wood
- Kaolin clay or other whitewash
- Vegetable dye or acrylic paint
- Beads, stones, feathers and fur
Instructions
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1
Train with a professional woodcarver. Kachina dolls are very intricate and difficult to carve so you will need to make sure that your woodcarving skills are up to the challenge. Let your instructor know that you would like to carve a Kachina doll so he can give you special instruction or refer you to someone who can.
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Choose the Kachina character you would like to carve. Research this Kachina character and learn as much as you can about its story, history and associations. This will help you to get to know the spirit of the doll you are carving and will also give you ideas on how to carve and decorate your doll.
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3
Draw your Kachina character. You may want to do this many times until you are perfectly satisfied with your drawing. See if you can find diagrams of your Kachina. This can help you as you plan your carving.
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Practice carving your Kachina. Continue this step until you are satisfied with your ability to carve the doll. Use inexpensive wood so you can practice carving as much as you need.
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5
Obtain a piece of cottonwood root if you want to carve the Kachina in the authentic Hopi tradition. This piece of wood should be about 1 foot long and at least 4 inches in diameter. Today many carvers use cottonwood branches or branches from other types of trees.
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Carve your Kachina as you have practiced. Take your time and think about your Kachina character as you carve. Kachina are important spirits in Hopi culture and must be treated with respect.
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7
Whitewash your carved Kachina doll with kaolin clay if you are making a traditional Kachina doll or any other substitute if you are not.
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Paint your Kachina. Traditionally, vegetable dies were used for this step, but you can use any type of paint. Today, acrylics are particularly effective and popular.
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Decorate your Kachina according to its traditional dress. You can use beads, stones, fur and feathers. You can make your Kachina doll's clothing out of cloth or you can incorporate the clothing into your carving and paint it when you are done.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit arizona desert image by John Keith from Fotolia.com
