How to Create My Own Carving Patterns

Create your own carving patterns for any material.

Whether you carve wood, linoleum, clay or other materials the process for finishing a carving projects is similar, though the tools used may change. Carving patterns can help you to carve any image or design as closely to the original artwork as possible. Make your own reusable carving patterns to use on whichever material you are carving.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing paper
• Pencil
• Carbon copy paper
• Masking tape
• Ball-tipped stylus

Instructions

1. Draw a scene, shape or object onto a sheet of drawing paper with a pencil.

2. Shade in any areas of the drawing that you want to carve away with the pencil.

3. Flip the drawing upside down and lay a piece of carbon copy paper, carbon side up, over the back of the drawing.

4. Hold the two sheets together and place them over the object you are carving, with the carbon side facing the carving surface.

5. Apply strips of masking tape around the edges of the drawing to hold both sheets in place over the carving surface.

6. Trace your drawing along the lines and shaded areas with a ball-tipped stylus to transfer the carbon onto the carving surface. Peel it away once you have finished revealing a copy of your drawing on the surface.