If I were a beginner, what would be the best carving to do?
Starting with wood carving isn’t tough.
Every summer, I spent time with my grandparents in a small village by the Volga river in Russia. I recall being six years old. I sneaked into my grandfather’s workshop and saw 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. To make a long story short, it was the start of my journey in carving. I didn’t carve wood that day. I found a white brick and started to chisel away. I really didn’t have any idea what I was carving. I just liked the process. By the end of the day, I could identify a human face in that brick. I don’t really remember what I felt, joy or frustration, but I know now it was the starting point 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. How are chip carving and relief carving different? All those complicated terms confused me. I had no knowledge of the basic principles of wood carving.
I felt very fortunate with both sides of my family. My grandfather owned a small shop and a couple of workbenches, and I could spend time with him and watch him work. For him, his shop was a “hiding place” from his wife, my grandmother. But naturally, she knew where to find him.On my father’s side, the family has a rich history of fine woodworkers and furniture makers. One of my great-grandfathers was a craftsman for a royal house in Saint Petersburg, Russia.My Grandmother told me stories of her childhood in her father’s woodworking shop.
She recalled the songs her father used to sing. He was singing while working with wood.I got my first chisel from my grandfather, and my first whittling knife from my grandmother. It wasn’t really a whittling knife; it was a pocket knife from the USSR. 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 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 try carving as a beginner to get started?
What should I carve if I’m just starting out?
Ask yourself first what is more appealing to you: a spoon or relief carvings. Often, beginners don’t see 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
Any tips for my first carving project?
Ponder another vital question. What carving style do I enjoy? Yet, this isn’t the only question to consider. Another question to ask is: what tools are at your disposal? Do you have basic wood carving tools or just a knife? Some might only have a chainsaw :). You can do chainsaw carving but not spoon carving.
I suggest trying out different carving styles. Again, 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 is like transmission fluid: not enough of it, as in those with ADHD, makes it hard to shift attention or it jumps to high gear.
(John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman, Spark)
Dopamine in woodcarving is like the oil for your carving tools: if there’s not enough, similar to individuals with ADHD, your focus can either get stuck or suddenly jump to intense concentration.
WOODCARVING – What should I try carving as a beginner to get started?-Easy Initial Carvings for Newbies
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!