Simple Carving Tips for Beginners

With the increasing popularity of carving artwork in the market, many people have developed the idea of wanting to learn carving. As we all know, carving is a skill that requires a lot of time and perseverance. To learn carving, beginners not only need to be well-prepared, but also need to continue to study the carving skills to achieve the purpose of improving themselves. But just follow the routine learning carving will make people feel overwhelmed, so carving beginners need to master some simple carving skills. Through this article introduces some simple skills, can make beginners learn carving become easier.

Preparation of basic materials

Beginners learning to carve of course, you need to prepare some suitable for their own engraving tool ah! Do not have to carve the master’s workbench as placed a variety of carving tools and carving machine, beginners only need to prepare some basic tools on it.

• Carving knife: Prepare a variety of head of the carving knife, “v” type knife, “u” type knife, flat head knife and round knife, used to deal with different details of the part.
• Sandpaper: Just buy a couple sheets of regular sandpaper. It helps to sand the surface and make the piece smoother.
• Holding jig: Keeps your material stable and secure while carving. Recommended professional
• Safety gear: goggles, dust mask, protective gloves and noise-isolating earplugs.

Start practicing the techniques

With the basic carving tools in place, you can begin to carve. Learn the simple carving techniques described below, and you’ll find that carving can be very simple.

Reference works

Beginners just learn to carve when they want to carve the idea of the work, basically no inspiration. You can first go to participate in some carving works exhibition, or go to the Internet to browse some carving works with reference value. First slowly copy, imitate the work of carving pattern and style. In the process of learning from others, you can slowly find yourself suitable for carving those types of works, and then slowly find their own comfort zone, to form their own unique style.

Practice Simple Patterns

Choose simple patterns for your copy work, so that you can get started. Then practice carving simple patterns, such as basic geometric shapes, to gradually develop your feel and control. Use a pencil to draw a simple pattern on the carving material, or mark it up before carving, and you’ll find it easy to get the hang of it.

Follow the Skeletal Principle

Regardless of the pattern being carved, there are skeletal principles that need to be followed. Even if it is a simple geometric figure, there are also angle laws that need to be followed. So when carving first follow the basic pattern for carving, do not change the carving direction out of the blue, so that the original basic pattern becomes strange. When carving flowers, plants, trees or figures, you need to observe the characteristics of each part and follow the growth pattern of the reference itself to carve. In the long run, you will find that your carvings are getting closer and closer to reality

Mastering strength and angle

The biggest problem encountered by novice carvers is the inability to master strength and angle. Too much force can cause the material to break, but too little force makes it difficult to shape the carving. Beginners are advised to purchase some inexpensive soft materials (plaster, foam) to practice on first. Adjust the angle at which you hold the carving knife, e.g. a 45° inclination of the carving knife to the carving surface is best when carving surface lines. Keep changing your carving tool to find the best strength and angle to use it, and you’ll get the hang of it.

Carving in layers

Beginners are not recommended to carve directly on a level, the carving of the work is easy to line messy and not aesthetic. It is recommended that novices carve in layers, first carve out the larger shapes, and then gradually carve the details. This will make the whole work look more three-dimensional and easier to master.

With the help of auxiliary tools

Use some auxiliary tools such as using a pneumatic engraver for labor-saving engraving or using a computer to draw engraving templates. These tools will not only save you time and effort in the engraving process, but will also improve the accuracy of your engraving and help you to effectively transform your ideas into works of art.

Constant Reflection and Correction

Beginners need to constantly learn from their experiences during the carving process in order to improve their carving skills. Whenever you finish a part of the carving, stop and observe it. Reflect on your work, note down corrections and gradually improve your work. Discovering your shortcomings and strengthening your strengths in time will all help to improve your carving.

Final Thoughts

Although you have mastered some simple carving skills, you will always encounter some uncontrollable difficulties in the process of learning to carve. Don’t be easily defeated by difficulties and keep the right mindset. Stick to the original intention of learning carving, stick to the interest of loving carving, stick to it and be persistent. When you go through a long period of carving training will be able to harvest satisfactory carving results.