Wood carving - what you need to know to get started

Be prepared for it to take time Woodcarving – occupation is not for people with a straw passion, impatient and quickly giving up. Don't expect to make an amazing sculpture in a few days (or a few hours). Sometimes it takes up to several years of practice to get to the right practice.

Choose the right wood Not every type of wood is suitable for carving. Choosing the right material is critical. The wood from which the sculptures are made must be soft enough and not have too many knots. The most popular type of wood among sculptors is linden, which meets both of the above conditions. The best especially are those trees that grow in sandy, rather dry and densely overgrown forests – they have few knots and evenly distributed, compact rings. Prepare the wood After the tree is felled, it is necessary to split it in half as soon as possible. Thanks to this, you will be able to completely control the cracks that will form on it. Of course, it would be ideal if they only appeared at the ends of the – then it will be easy for you to remove them. After splitting the wood, it must be debarked. This is extremely important and should never be overlooked. Thanks to debarking, wood can start the processes of scalding and hardening. When you do this, make sure the wood is stored in the right conditions. In about 7 months it will be ready to sculpt in it. During this time, never expose the wood to the sun! It should be covered, kept in the shade at all times and have access to fresh air. Complete the Necessary Tools The wood is carved with a tool called a chisel. Of course, it comes in many different sizes and shapes. To get started, stock up on 3-4 simple chisels of various sizes. If you don't want to invest in tools, you can eventually use other sharp tools that have a pommel (even a quality knife) for carving. Before you start carving, check how the sip is arranged in the wood you will be working with. This is extremely important, because you need to sculpt in your own direction.