Wood Carving

The Middle Ages boast some of the finest existant examples of early wood carving. Italy and France produced much of this art work where the typical themes of that era were Christian iconography. In England many complete examples still remain from the 16th and 17th century..

From the remotest ages the decoration of wood has been a foremost art. The tendency of human nature has always been to ornament every article in use. Just as a child of today instinctively cuts patterns on the bark of his switch freshly taken from the hedgerow, humanity has from the earliest times cut designs on every wooden article fit for carving.

Basic woodcarving tool set

    * the carving knife: a specialized knife used to pare, cut, and smooth wood.
    * the gouge: a tool with a curved cutting edge used in a variety of forms and sizes for carving hollows, rounds and sweeping curves.
    * the chisel, large and small, whose straight cutting edge is used for lines and cleaning up flat surfaces.
    * the V-tool used for parting, and in certain classes of flat work for emphasizing lines.
    * the veiner used for veining, and drilling holes. This tool is a specialized gouge with a small radius.

A special screw for fixing work to the workbench, and a mallet, complete the carvers kit, though other tools, both specialized and adapted, are often used, such as a router for bringing grounds to a uniform level, bent gouges and bent chisels for cutting hollows too deep for the ordinary tool.

12-Piece Stubai Professional Carver''s Set
From: Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

The Art and Craft of Wood Carving
By Kent Sayre

Sure, wood carving may not be the most desirable or sought-after hobby, but taking a large (or small) block of wood and turning it into a work of art is nothing short of amazing.

(see also history of woodcarving)

 Watching wood carved into statues is perhaps the most apparent instance of wood carving because it’s something we can see first hand. But wood carving is not just a part of our lives when we see it at a fair or amusement park, wood carving plays a role in virtually all aspects of our day. The kitchen table we sit at, the wooden chairs wesit in, the cabinets we open, the pencils we use, the walking sticks we twirl, the entertainment centers we buy, the chopsticks we use…all of these things-in one form or another-are types of wood carving that play a role in our every day life.

The fact that people can carve wood in as articulate a fashion as they do, combined with the fact that any craft takes effort, is precisely the reason why we stare and wonder, “How can somebody be so talented?”

Now you can learn how. With the help of the electronic guide, you can get started in wood carving. You’ll discover whether or not you’re a natural wood carver, what you need (and don’t need) to get started, where to gain experience and support as you practice, a wood carver’s “woodcarving tools of the trade,” the kind of wood you should use (and avoid) when carving, the safety procedures that must be adhered to, the importance of the grain on the wood, how to develop and accomplish the patterns you want, and much, much more!