How to Get Started in Woodcarving

If you're artistic, enjoy working with you hands, like to work with chisels, sand paper, wood finishes, and glue, you may want to try woodcarving. Once you carve your first woodcarving, you'll want to do more.

Woodcarving is an age-old art that not only gives you a sense of accomplishment, but also is relaxing.

What about tools? If you don't have the money to invest in a lot of tools, take heart. It's actually better not to have too many. Start out with a gouge (#12 is good). A curved chisel that chips off wood, a gouge lets you get close to the final shape.

Types of woodcarving---One aspect I appreciate about woodcarving is that there is more than just one way to carve....

*Whittling---The most basic woodcarving technique, whittling is a hobby where you all you need are two basic items---a piece of wood and a simple pocketknife. . It's an excellent way to relax, as you sit on your front porch and create something out of nothing.

*Carving "in the round"----This form of woodcarving is the most advanced. Because it renders a realistic look, it can be viewed from all angles and directions. Again, you just need a few tools---"U" and "V" shaped gouges, straight and skew chisels, as well as straight knives (#80, 120, and 240 grit sandpaper, dividers, rules, tracing paper, hand drills, etc.) Woods that do well for this kind of carving include basswood, butternut, and pine.

Relief carving--- When a design is inscribed on a flat board surface (with the ground around the figure removed to make it pop out) it's called low relief. Low relief carving is my favorite technique. (See photo of my low relief carving of a mallard duck.) After you're finished carving, you can also paint your design. Acrylic craft paints do well in covering the wood.

On the other hand, high relief woodcarving is when the figures are carved so that they have both depth and perspective. Although tools for relief carving are similar to those used for carving in the round, they're a smaller set of "V" and "U" gouges.

What can you carve? Just about anything. If you're practical, you may gravitate to carving jewelry boxes or other items you can use around your home. Some woodcarvers specialize in carving scenes (both low and high relief), while others enjoy doing caricatures. Most woodcarvers enjoy carving animals, as well as birds and fish.

After you've carved a few pieces, you'll probably want to share your work, as well as admire other woodcarvings. That's why it's good to get plugged into a woodcarving club. Check your local newspaper to see if there's one that meets in your area. Or, just do a simple Google search for a listing of woodcarving groups that meet near you. At meetings, you can meet other woodcarvers who share your craft, as well as learn more about woodcarving. And, it's also good to discuss future projects with new friends, getting valuable feedback. Or, why not get your spouse involved, too? What's more, woodcarving makes a great hobby for retired couples.