What are good carving projects for a beginner?
What should I carve if I’m new to this hobby?-Woodcarving Ideas for Beginners
What's a good carving project for a beginner?
Getting started in wood carving is not that difficult.
Every summer, I spent time with my grandparents in a small village by the Volga river in Russia. I remember when I was six years old. I snuck inside my grandfather's workshop, and I found one woodworking chisel. I didn't know what the tool was, but I knew it had a sharp edge and I could probably cut something with it. To cut a long story short, it was the beginning of my carving journey. I didn't carve wood that day, though. I found a white brick and started to “chisel away”. I really didn't have any idea what I was carving. I simply enjoyed doing it. By the end of the day, I saw a human face in that brick. I don't really remember what I felt, joy or frustration, but I know now it was the start of my lifelong journey as a carver.
Then, I worked with wood and preferred it over brick. I decided. I'll carve wood, not brick!
I had no idea about the types of wood or the different styles of wood carving. What's the difference between chip carving and relief carving? All those complicated terms confused me. I didn't know any basics of wood carving.
I was really lucky with both sides of my family. My grandpa had a little shop and a few workbenches, and I could hang out with him and see how he did things. To him, his shop was a “hiding spot” from his wife, my grandma. But of course, 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 Grandmother shared stories of her childhood in her father's woodworking shop.
She recalled the songs her father used to sing. He sang while he worked with the wood.My first chisel came from my grandfather, and my first whittling knife came from my grandmother. It was actually a pocket knife made in the USSR, not a real whittling knife. Pocket knives are good for basic carving. Those two tools were all I had for carving. I didn't have any gouge or power tools. Not even a real chip carving knife. A simple pocket knife is enough to make something beautiful.
Back then, I didn't know woodcarving would be so significant in my life. Today, I carve for collectors around the globe and private homes. I didn't realize woodcarving could be so rewarding.
What should I carve if I’m new to this hobby?
What is a good carving project for a beginner?
Ponder on what attracts you more: a spoon or relief carvings. New carvers often don't realize the huge difference between carving a wooden spoon and carving a 3D sculpture with a gouge and a mallet. This is also known as carving in the round.
Nature itself functions by the ongoing interaction of opposites—earth and fire, sun and moon, male and female, dark and light.
(Based on Robert Greene, Mastery)
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My first carving project: what should I do?
Ponder another vital question. What carving style do I enjoy? But that's not the only question you need to ask. Another question to ask is: what tools are at your disposal? Do you own basic wood carving tools or just a knife? Some of you have only a chainsaw :). You can carve with a chainsaw but not a spoon.
I advise experimenting with various carving styles. So, what hand tools do you possess? With just a chip carving knife, spoon carving isn't possible, but other carvings are.
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: without enough, similar to people with ADHD, your focus can either freeze or suddenly become intensely focused.
WOODCARVING – What should I carve if I’m new to this hobby?-Woodcarving Ideas for Beginners
Here is a List of some ideas:
- Carving spoons
- 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!