If you're anything like me, you want to jump in head first. "Wow, that intricate relief carving I just saw at an art gallery is incredible! I want to try to make that when I get home." As a beginner wood carver myself, there's inspiration everywhere! However, I've definitely bitten off more than I can chew on more than one occasion. Starting out, the projects that ended up being the most rewarding were the ones that were simple, which allowed me to practice my skills, enjoy the process, and not get overwhelmed. How To Use This Article This article will provide you with some fun wood carving ideas for inspiration, but it doesn't have the instructions for each idea included. I'd...
In this short video tutorial, practice three important, basic whittling cuts while learning how to carve a tiny monster out of basswood with Isaac J Middlemiss, aka woodcarvingman. Types of whittling cuts used: The Stop Cut Use stop cuts to define the boundaries of your carving, especially where you need a sharp, clean edge. In this video, you'll use the stop cut a lot, including at the beginning of the project when you carve along the lines of your drawn monster. Hold the knife perpendicular to the wood surface. Push the blade straight down into the wood to your desired depth (usually shallow, 1/8" to 1/4"). The Pull Cut The pull cut is great for creating controlled, shallow cuts when...
Pumpkin carving isn’t just for spooky faces anymore—just ask Daniel Miller, one of our talented customers who decided to carve an old lady… carving herself. Armed with our pen chisel set, Daniel turned an everyday pumpkin into a work of art, complete with wrinkles, arms, a functional mirror, and all the little details. It’s proof that with skill, the right tools (and a wild imagination), pumpkin carving can go way beyond jack-o'-lanterns! Now that you’ve seen the kind of magic that can happen, let’s get into how you, too, can become a pumpkin carving pro. Feeling inspired? For the rest of October, these Schaaf Tools wood carving kits are 15% off. Choosing the Best Pumpkin Carving Tools The secret...
How to Carve a Wood Spirit - Lesson 5 of 5 We recommend you start this tutorial series at the beginning. Here are the links to each previous lesson:Lesson 1 - Prep and Roughout StageLesson 2 - Nose, Brow and Eye-MoundsLesson 3 - Carving the eyesLesson 4 - Carving Hair In this fifth and final video on how to carve a wood spirit, we'll be taking your project to the finish line. Learn how to properly sand and finish your wood carving like a pro. You will need:- 220 Grit Sandpaper (or similar grit)I recommend sandpaper that's meant for an orbital sander because its a little bit thicker. Unlike normal sandpaper, you can continue to use a piece long...
How to Carve a Wood Spirit Lesson 4 of 5 We recommend you start this tutorial series at the beginning. Here are the links to each previous lesson:Lesson 1 - Prep and Roughout StageLesson 2 - Nose, Brow and Eye-MoundsLesson 3 - Carving the eyes You can check out lesson 5 here:Lesson 5 - Finishing your carving In today's lesson, learn how to carve beautiful, flowing hair (or any type of hair you'd like, really. It doesn't have to be flowing. First you'll separate the tufts of hair to help define its' flow pattern. Next, Lucas will go over how to execute the detail work. This Schaaf Tools Video Series with woodcarver Lucas Kost takes beginner carvers through the...
