where does a woodcarving start?
Not when you put chisel to wood. “It starts with your idea” And between your idea – or vision – and when you put chisel to wood is a vital ‘preparation’ stage: the process of gathering information, sifting, selecting; designing with the wood, the viewer and ‘what you want to say’ in mind. Far more carvings fail because of the design or lack of preparation that in the sheer technical carving ability. (Think of crudely carved ethnic sculpture that is simply fabulous to look at.) This design and preparation stage can take longer than the carving itself and is for me the most interesting part of a woodcarving. It is what separates MY carving from SOMEONE ELSE’S, far more than technical skill. After that it becomes even more interesting… 2. FEELING THE FORM To the extent that you can ‘see’ or feel what is below the surface of your wood, to that extent will you easily and successfully carve your subject. To the extent that you can’t see it, that you don’t know what you are carving – what i
