What should I try carving first as a beginner?
What should I carve if I’m new to this hobby?-Woodcarving for Beginners
As a beginner, what carving should I start with?
Wood carving isn't difficult to get into.
Every summer, I lived with my grandparents in a small village by the Volga river in Russia. I remember when I was six. I sneaked into my grandfather's workshop and discovered a woodworking chisel. I didn't know what the tool was, but I noticed it had a cutting edge and figured I could cut something with it. Long story short, it was the start of my carving journey. I didn't carve wood that day, though. I found a white brick and started to “chisel away”. I had no idea what I was carving. I just enjoyed the process. By the end of the day, I saw a human face in that brick. I don't really remember if I felt joy or frustration, but I know now it was the start of my lifelong journey as a carver.
After that, I tried to work with a piece of wood and liked it a lot more than brick. I made the decision. I will carve wood and no longer the brick!
I knew nothing about types of wood or about different types of wood carving. How do chip carving and relief carving differ? The jargon was all very confusing to me. I didn't know any basics of wood carving.
I was very blessed with both sides of my family. My grandfather had a small shop and a couple of workbenches, and I could spend time with him and watch how he worked. For him, his shop was a “hiding place” from his wife, my grandmother. But obviously, she knew where to find him.The other side of my family, my father's side, is known for their skill in woodworking and furniture making. A great-grandfather of mine was a furniture maker for a royal house in Saint Petersburg, Russia.My Granny told me tales from when she was a kid in her father's woodworking shop.
She recalled the songs her father used to sing. He sang while he worked with the wood.My grandfather gave me my first chisel, and my grandmother gave me my first whittling knife. Actually, it was a pocket knife from the USSR, not a whittling knife. Pocket knives are good for simple carving. Those were my carving tools. I didn't have a gouge or any power tools. Not even a real chip carving knife. A basic pocket knife is enough to create something beautiful.
Back then I didn't know that woodcarving would be one of the most important parts of my life. Now I am carving for collectors around the world and private residences. I did not know that woodcarving could be such a rewarding hobby.
What should I carve if I’m new to this hobby?
As a beginner, what should I carve?
First, ask yourself what you find more appealing: a spoon or relief carvings. A lot of beginners don't grasp the big difference between carving a wooden spoon and carving a 3-dimensional sculpture with a gouge and a mallet. This is also called carving in the round.
Nature itself works through the constant interaction of opposites—earth and fire, sun and moon, male and female, dark and light.
(Based on Robert Greene, Mastery)
Join School of Wood Carving
What should I do for my first carving project?
Consider another crucial question. What carving style do I prefer? But that's not the only question you need to ask. Another question is: what tools are available to you? Do you own basic wood carving tools or just a knife? Some might only have a chainsaw :). Chainsaw carving is possible but not spoon carving.
I recommend trying different styles. Think about it, what hand tools do you have? If you only possess a chip carving knife, you can't do spoon carving, but you can still carve other things.
Dopamine functions like transmission fluid: when there’s too little, like in people with ADHD, it’s tough to shift attention or it goes straight to high gear.
(John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman, Spark)
Dopamine in woodcarving is like oil for your carving tools: if there’s not enough, just like people with ADHD, your focus can either freeze or suddenly become very intense.
WOODCARVING – What should I carve if I’m new to this hobby?-Woodcarving for Beginners
Here is a List of some ideas:
- Spoon carving
- Old European Knife Carving
- Relief Carving
- Carving in the round
- Bird and Fish Carving
I’m a woodworker who loves carving. I make fancy carvings for a high end client worldwide. I also teach wood carving. I started the School of Wood Carving, a non-profit to help people learn.
The school’s website has over 3,000 how-to videos. Great for beginners and pros! I’m from Russia but have lived in the USA a long time. Like wood? Join us at the School of Wood Carving. We’d love to have you!