Alexander Grabovetskiy, woodcarver, School of Woodcarving
How do you carve hazelnuts in wood?
You carve a whole hazel branch, leaves, nuts in their husks, and hanging catkins, in real 3D relief from one solid block of basswood. Across three lessons you go from transferring the pattern and roughing out the background to shaping every nut and adding the final surface texture.
A leaf glued flat onto a board never looks alive. A hazel branch carved in real depth does.
This course takes you through a whole hazelnut panel, from a plain block of wood to a branch you would almost reach out and pick.
Hazelnuts are personal for me. I grew up in Russia with hazelnut bushes everywhere, and we made all kinds of things from them, even fishing rods. Here is what is inside, from the wood and tools to the three lessons and who it is for.
Do you carve hazelnuts from one block of wood or glue the pieces on?
From one solid block. The leaves, the nuts in their husks, and the hanging catkins are all cut from the same piece of basswood, background and all. Nothing is glued on. You take a lot of wood out by hand, and what is left stands up in real depth, the way a branch really hangs.
What wood and tools do you need to carve hazelnuts?
American basswood. A main block about two inches thick, that is 50 millimeters, close to printer-paper size, 8.25 by 11 inches, about 21 by 28 centimeters. Keep two or three small one-inch offcuts for the high spots. You also want graphite or carbon paper to transfer the pattern, which is in the course materials, and your carving gouges. Clamp the block solidly to your bench before you start.
How do you carve a hazelnut step by step?
In three stages. First you transfer the pattern and rough out the background across the grain. Then you shape the nuts, the leaves, and the husks. Last, you add the surface texture and the fine detail.
Can a beginner carve a hazelnut in relief?
Yes, if you take it slowly. This is detailed work. If you have carved a little and can keep your tools sharp, you can do it, one cut at a time. If you are brand new, it will stretch you, and that is fine. There is a Russian saying, «глаза боятся, а руки делают». The eyes are afraid, but the hands do the work. Just be real about the time good carving takes.
| What you need | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wood | American basswood, one solid block |
| Block thickness | about 2 in / 50 mm |
| Panel size | 8.25 by 11 in (about 21 by 28 cm) |
| Pattern | provided in the course materials |
| Lessons | 3, from rough-out to final texture |
One solid block. The branch and the background are all the same piece of wood.
Key takeaways
- You carve a whole hazel branch in 3D from one solid block.
- American basswood, about a 2-inch block, close to printer-paper size.
- Three lessons, from roughing out to the final surface texture.
- Detailed work, but you do it one cut at a time.
Frequently asked questions
What is relief carving?
Relief carving is where the design rises out of a solid background instead of being cut free all the way around. Here, a whole hazel branch stands up in 3D from one block of basswood, background and all.
What wood is best for carving hazelnuts?
American basswood. A main block about two inches thick, close to printer-paper size, plus a few small offcuts for the high points.
Is there a pattern for carving a hazelnut?
Yes. The hazelnut pattern comes in the course materials, ready to transfer onto your block.
How long does it take to carve a hazelnut relief?
It runs across three lessons that build on each other, from roughing out the background to the final texture, and you go at your own pace.
More on this: What relief carving is