Seven Castles

Woodcarving

                                      

April 18, 2008

 

Wood has a natural beauty that makes it perfect for a variety of uses. Woodcarving is a simple and inexpensive art form that allows you to create both decorative and practical objects for your home. It includes any kind of sculpture in wood, from the decorative bass-relief on small objects to life-size figures in the round, furniture and architectural decorations.

 

Just as manmade fabrics have increased in popularity in recent decades, displacing natural fibers like cotton, linen and wool, other manmade materials have also made inroads into markets that were once the exclusive domain of natural products. People cover the outside of their houses with vinyl siding and the inside with vinyl flooring and synthetic carpet. Plastics are used for everything from clocks to kitchen utensils.

 

Even so, it is still hard to beat the warmth and beauty of wood. Unfortunately, as a material for home décor, wood is often the most expensive choice. This is ironic, since millions of people around the world burn wood to keep warm or cook their food. If you live in an area where hardwoods are burned for fuel, perhaps you have lamented this apparent wastefulness. This feeling of wastefulness seems especially intense if you have ever had the opportunity to cut up a cherry, walnut or similar tree for fuel. Perhaps you have found yourself wondering how hard it would be to just take a log and make something from it.

 

Woodcarving is one of the oldest and simplest art forms. While a simple jackknife may be all you need to start carving a piece of wood, many other specialized tools are available. In the same way, while any wood may be used, they all have different qualities and work best for different things.

 

The woods used vary greatly in hardness and grain. The most commonly employed woods include boxwood, pine, pear, walnut, willow, oak and ebony. The tools are simple gouges, chisels, wooden mallets and pointed instruments. Although they were universally one of the earliest art media, woodcarvings have withstood poorly the vicissitudes of time and climate.

 

Most woodcarvers start out making very simple objects. Even if you have never considered yourself an artist, you can probably envision what a spoon or bowl should look like. By trial and error you might find that you can derive great satisfaction from just making these everyday objects. They have the advantage of being not only decorative, but also practical.

 

For more elaborate projects, you might need a pattern. These can also be purchased online, or downloaded for free from sites. Some magazines also have free patterns, as well as an abundance of general information on woodcarving and links to other sites.

 

If you are really an artist you might try your hand at carving sculptures. Whether it is a wooden spoon or a wooden sculpture, with a little time and patience, you too can enjoy the warmth and beauty of wood.

【作者: zhangliping】【访问统计:】【2008年04月18日 星期五 05:51】【注册】【打印】