Wood carving for beginners

Each person has certain talents, some are acquired, others are given by nature. In their quest for beauty, people are constantly trying to do not only something new, unusual, functional, but also beautiful, aesthetic and beautiful. Working with wood is one of the oldest crafts, which remains popular and relevant today. Those who want to learn woodcarving must learn a lot of tricks, understand the technique and gain experience, but this requires certain knowledge.

Wood carving originated in Russia, when in addition to creating wooden furniture and utensils, the craftsmen tried their hand at decorative and applied art.

Due to the variety of variations in the performance of wood processing, it is worth highlighting the varieties of this skill. These include:

• through thread;
• deaf;
• brownie;
• sculptural;
• chainsaw thread.

In addition to this classification, there is also a division of woodwork into relief and three-dimensional sculptural carvings. The simplest technique is the creation of relief, which is divided into such thread options:

• geometric;
• flat-relief;
• openwork;
• deaf with the selected background;
• slotted contour;
• waybill.

Each technique has its own characteristics, therefore it is necessary to study each species in order to fully master the skill of working with wood.

Contouring is considered one of the simplest techniques, since the patterns are applied on a smooth prepared surface, slightly deepening inside the material, which allows you to form the contour of the future pattern.

To start work, you need to come up with or choose a pattern you like and apply it to a tree that should be as smooth as possible.

The optimal depth for cutting is considered to be 1.5-2 mm and the angle of inclination of the tool is 40 °. Having done one line, you can start the next, but by tilting the cutting equipment in the opposite direction to make a geometric recess. If the movements were made correctly, the edges of the lines will be smooth and the surface shiny.

A more complex technique of carving after contouring is considered geometric, it differs in that the pattern is created not using lines, but due to the creation of geometric shapes. Most often, novice carvers use wedge-shaped notches in the wood.

When drawing a sketch, a pencil, ruler and compass are used so that all lines are even and correct. If you can’t create a drawing on your own, you can use the finished sketch by printing it and using an awl of punctures at the intersection of the lines.

Sketches with geometric carvings often consist of triangles, which must have a notch, because the wood is cut at different angles, and the excess tree is removed. Once all the triangles are processed, you can proceed to the thread of other elements. After the main work, it is necessary to clean the problem areas for which a sharper tool is used. The finished pattern is sanded and coated with stain.

Another technique that allows you to create a picture on a tree is called flat-engraved. The essence of this method is that on a flat surface you need to create recesses, thanks to which the desired result will be formed.

This type of activity can have varieties, these are:

• through thread, which can be overhead or through; slotted - the work is performed with a chisel or chisel; profile - you need a jigsaw or saw to work; openwork - carving is performed in the form of a relief ornament;
• blind thread when there are no through holes on the surface during operation;
• house carving, used to decorate the facades of houses.

Each type of woodwork has its own characteristics, the inventory that is necessary in the process, as well as the technique thanks to which it is possible to master basic and more complex techniques.

The most difficult technique for woodwork is sculptural carving, which differs from other types in that chock, branch, and a piece of rhizome are taken to work, which are given the necessary shape. In addition to skill, the most important factor is the correct selection of working material. Thanks to this technology, figures of animals and people can be obtained from wood.

A sharp tool is used for work.Thanks to which a piece of wood immediately takes shape, then the desired shape and gradually becomes the object that the master conceived.

When planning to try your hand at woodcarving, it is important to understand that in addition to talent, you must have a set of tools with you, as well as use the right wood. Even experienced craftsmen will not be able to get high-quality results if they take a tree that is difficult to process.

The most suitable for carving are certain types of wood.

• Linden - The most suitable option for the first steps in working with wood. This material has the greatest softness, which allows you to learn both simple and complex techniques in optimal conditions.
• Alder - For carving, both red and black varieties of this tree are suitable. This wood is denser than linden, but also lends itself well to processing, it is very convenient to cut, and the patterns will be clear and beautiful. The main disadvantage can be considered that this type of wood is rare.
• Birch tree - An even more dense and resilient version of wood, but suitable for understanding the basics of wood carving. Unlike alder, which does not change shape after drying, birch can be deformed, therefore small objects are usually created from it.
• Oak - a noble material for woodwork by experienced craftsmen, it will be difficult for beginners to cope with an oak canvas. In the work on the oak, sharp equipment and an experienced hand of the master are needed, which will cope with the task.
• Pear - fruit tree, which is characterized by good density and homogeneous structure. Thanks to the peculiarities of pear wood, you can create the most delicate and elegant work.

Each master should be well aware of the features of all types of wood and choose the most optimal options for work.

Work on wood processing requires the master to have the necessary equipment, thanks to which he can create any product. Among the most important tools are:

• sharp penknife;
• saw (transverse, longitudinal, universal);
• ax (cleaver);
• Tesla, an ax with a blade perpendicular to the ax, to create curly and concave products;
• cutter, planer - necessary for removing chips from the workpiece
• drill;
• Dremel with nozzles to create woodcuts;
• a mill with a set of blades;
• file;
• jamb knife;
• chisels - a tool for processing wood (there are flat, semicircular, angular and brackish varieties);
• klukarzy - a chisel having a curved shape (thanks to this tool you can engage in relief carving, immersing the chisel in wood strongly);
• spoon cutters - a tool through which you can create wooden spoons, as the shape of the product contributes to the effective extraction of large quantities of wood at a time.

For a novice wood craftsman it will be enough to have a carpenter’s pencil, several chisels, a jamb knife and a penknife.

Woodcarving should be carried out in a prepared place, on a strong and stable workbench. Beginners can use the countertop, the main thing is that its height does not exceed the line of the belt. The main requirement for a work surface is cleanliness and smoothness, in case of irregularities they need to be removed immediately. The board on which the thread is made must be securely fixed with clamps.

For beautiful and high-quality work on the working area, it is necessary to install good lighting in the form of 2-3 lamps or bright lamps. The placement of light will be important, it should be exposed at a different angle, above the level of the eye of the carver. In a well-lit and properly prepared workplace, even a novice can learn more skills and quickly learn the basics of skill.

To understand the basics of wood carving, it is worth phasing in the lessons - from the simplest to the more complex. For beginners, and especially for children, it is worth immediately talking about safety measures to prevent possible injuries.

The simplest technique is to learn contouring, for which you need to prepare the basic inventory:

• wooden blank;
• chisels;
• jamb knife;
• pencil and sketch paper;
• sand paper;
• paints.

To correctly and beautifully cut wood, it is important to tell all about the chisels and show them in the work. Handwork is distinguished by the subtlety of execution, so do not rush and start cutting without a sketch. Drawings are prepared on paper, carefully thought out, and then transferred to a tree.

The novice carver must feel the tool and learn how to work with it. As soon as it starts to turn out stably, you can choose some kind of sketch and try to bring it to life. The most common themes for carving are animals and natural landscapes with various objects. After the work is completed, the workpiece is ground and painted.

Woodcarving is a complex activity, which takes a lot of time to master, and the absence of errors significantly reduces the training period. Among the main errors can be identified:

• the use of raw wood, without drying;
• hasty deepening into the surface of the tree, all movements should be slow, with gradual pressure;
• carving in one direction and with the same pressure, without taking into account the specifics of wood, you need to change the pressure and work at different angles, depending on the wood material;
• lack of a work plan: without elaboration of a sketch, proper drawing and gradual carving of a pattern, it will not work to achieve a result;
• Do not rush to learn all the skills at once, you need to start with small and light, gradually increasing the level of skill.

If a novice master sets the right tasks and will not make mistakes, then gradually he will learn how to work with different types of trees and create masterpieces.

The following video presents a woodcarving lesson for beginners.