Introduction Wood carving involves using the relevant tools to carve a figure from a block of wood and technically referred to as Xyloglyphy.
Suffice it to say that the quality of the wood, the precision of the tools and the expertise of the artist combine to give us some of the most beautiful figures in wood that we have laid our eyes upon.
Christian Iconography was an influential factor in the early wood carvings of Italy and France from the Middle Ages say 500 to 1500 BCE.
Along with the figures of Christ, wood carving also surfaced in Japan around the same time in the form of Buddhist sculptures.
Ancient Egypt has thrown up some exciting wood carvings of male form, done in black sycamore and inlaid with bronze ebony and crystals dating back to 6000 years.
Wood Selection The selection of wood is a primary factor in the quality of the finished product.
Wood does not have the same consistency all round as metal and is known to be anisotropic.
The 'grain' represents the direction in which the wood will be strongest and all delicate work in wood is recommended to be done along the grain, not against it.
The grain itself represents variations of texture like wavy interlocked or strait.
The fact that, carving along the grain is better, is exemplified by the fact that tender, designs across the grains break easily while those done along the grain withstand the test of time.
Some of the best woods for carving are known to be Hardwoods like Basswood and Tupelo, besides chestnut, oak, Mahogany, Teak, and Rosewood.
Italian walnut, maple, apple, pear is known for the excellence in delicate carving.
The tools Whittling is considered the most basic form of wood carving used mainly on softwoods.
It is p mainly as a hobby and you would be amazed at the quality and beauty of the products turned out by these amateurs.
This craft exclusively uses the knife - no chisels or other tools.
Considering the basic requirements for wood carving, one needs a work bench, some sort of contraption to hold the wood to the work bench.
The carving knife is used to pare, cut and smoothen the wood surface, the gouge, with curved cutting edges, helping to form the hollows, rounds and curves, the chopping saw used in cutting the wood chunks as a whole, the chisel, a straight edged blade used in leveling, the v-tool, for parting, the veiner, a special gouge with a u-shaped cutting edge, a wooden mallet and a stone for sharpening the tools.
The sculpture The choice of wood for the sculpture to be carved is of prime importance.
It must be remembered that, hardwoods are difficult to carve, but last long, while soft woods are easy to work on, but cannot stand the test of time, and may get damaged.
Then again, intricate designs would call for fine grained wood.
With the wood selection process out of the way, the process of gouging and shaping the wood will start in earnest.
Care is to be taken to ensure that the tools in use are of hardness compatible with the hard or soft wood on which they are set to work.
From the basic shape, the sculptor now proceeds to use the chisel, gouge and v-tool, with the mallet, if necessary, for the finer details.
When the work is done, a layer of wax or lacquer is applied for protection.