If I were a beginner, what would be the best carving to do?
Starting with wood carving isn’t tough.
Every summer I stayed with my grandparents in a small Russian village by the Volga river. 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 saw it had a sharp edge and guessed I could cut something with it. Long story short, it was the start of my journey in carving. I didn’t carve wood that day, though. I found a white brick and began to chisel away. I had no clue what I was carving. I simply enjoyed the process. At 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.
Following that, I used wood and liked it way more than brick. I decided. Wood carving is for me, no more 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 technical words were hard for me to understand. I did not know any wood carving basics.
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.Other side of my family. Father’s side had a history of fine woodworkers and furniture makers. One of my great-grandfathers was one of the furniture makers 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 remembered her father’s songs. He sang as he worked with the wood.My grandfather gave me my first chisel, and my grandmother gave me my first whittling knife. It was really a pocket knife from the USSR, not a whittling knife. Pocket knives work well for basic carving. Those two tools were my carving tools. I didn’t have a gouge or any power tools. Not even a proper 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 to practice my skills as a beginner?
What should I carve as a beginner?
Ask yourself first what is more appealing to you: a spoon or relief carvings. Many times, beginners don’t understand the big 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 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
Starting my first carving project. What steps should I take?
Consider another crucial question. What carving style do I prefer? But this is not the only question you have to ask yourself. Another question to ask is: what tools are at your disposal? Do you have basic carving tools or only a knife? Some folks 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 all you have is a chip carving knife, you can’t carve a spoon, but you can carve other items.
Dopamine works like transmission fluid: if there’s not enough, as is the case in people with ADHD, attention can’t easily be shifted or can only be shifted all the way into high gear.
(John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman, Spark)
Dopamine in woodcarving is like oil for your carving tools: if there’s not enough, like those with ADHD, your focus can either get stuck or suddenly become very sharp.
WOODCARVING – What should I carve to practice my skills as a beginner?-Woodcarving Activities for Starters
Here is a List of some ideas:
- Creating spoons from wood
- 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!