Wood is the most practical material. From ancient times, household items were made from it, houses were built, toys for children were made. And today this material is gaining popularity, especially handmade products from it. Today we’ll talk about what flat-relief wood carving is, what species diversity it has.

This needlework has come to us since ancient times, when people decorated household items, houses, furniture, fences. For a while, its popularity declined, and now it has regained it again. There are many types of woodcarving. But today we will talk about what subspecies flat-relief carving is divided into:

• A thread in which the contour has an oval appearance. When using this type, a certain chiaroscuro is obtained, which looks original on the entire composition;
• A carving whose background has already been selected. The meaning of this type is that the background itself is not flat, sometimes even located below the pattern itself. The ornament seems to be superimposed on the plane.

Let's consider several master classes with step-by-step photos for a more detailed study of flat-relief carving.

amazing animals

To work, you will need the following tools and materials:

• Wood;
• Sandpaper;
• Sketch on which the carving will take place;
• Carving tools;
• Paint brush;
• Copy paper;
• Black pencil.

Step by step instructions for making a painting.

First of all, we level the wood. To do this, take sandpaper and start sanding. After the wood is completely ready, we redraw the drawing. To do this, we find the necessary picture on the Internet and print it. We translate with a black simple pencil.

We start carving. In this case, three layers are removed, thereby the picture acquires a three-dimensional appearance.

Here's what should happen.

To make the picture more expressive, paint it in the places of cutting with a contrasting paint.

In order for the picture to acquire an interesting appearance, we suggest making a frame for it, also made of wood. After the frame is ready, we insert our picture and can be hung on the wall.

This type of work is also suitable for beginner carvers. When working, do not forget to follow safety precautions.

For work you will need:

• Wood or product that you want to decorate;
• Carving tool set;
• Simple ruler;
• Black simple pencil;
• Sandpaper.

Step by step instructions for doing the job:

Harvested wood must be sanded for complete alignment. Now let's move on to drawing. To do this, take a pencil and a ruler, draw a rectangle, inside which there will be squares in the amount of 2 pieces, and draw diagonals in them.

Next, you need to connect the midpoints of each of the sides of the squares so that the lines intersect with the intersection of the diagonal at one common point. As a result, it should turn out like this: each of the squares should have 8 triangles.

Now let's start carving. We take the jamb in our hands, set its angular part in the middle of one of the resulting triangles so that the tool blade connects the center with the right angle of the triangle itself. Thus, we make a cut. Here's how it should turn out for you:

After we connect the middle with the second corner in the triangle.

The next line connects the last corner and the center point. This time one action is not enough, because the line itself is very long. Be sure to watch your movements and how your hands are positioned. When working, the elbow of the hand should stand on the table and in no case come off. Otherwise, you can harm yourself or ruin your work.

After we make an incision, the angle, which will consist of 45 degrees. This action connects all the corners of the triangle and the middle.

Pay close attention to the depth of the cut. In the central part, it should be larger than at the edges, but in no case vice versa.

Having barely learned to hold objects in his hands, the little man shows a craving for creativity. Over time, he will have the opportunity to try himself in various types of skills: needlework, modeling, origami, woodcarving, drawing. Of course, certain skills that the child received in early childhood will be useful for this. Sometimes a simple hobby gradually turns into a hobby, and then becomes a matter of life. So many centuries ago in Rus', one of the main types of creativity was woodcarving. And in the 21st century, it still arouses genuine interest among people.

Popular types of intricate art

For a long time, people have decorated their homes with wooden carvings. All sorts of paintings, kitchen utensils, religious objects, children's toys were considered valuable things for any family. Perhaps that is why various types of woodcarving appeared. The most popular options are:

• geometric;
• flat notched;
• slotted;
• sculptural;
• embossed;
• openwork;
• invoice.

Fortunately, the list does not end there, because this type of creativity is widespread throughout our vast country. Let's consider just a few of them.

Geometric wood carving involves the use of various figures in the work. These are triangles, circles, squares and polyhedra. It is used for the manufacture of furniture elements, household utensils, as well as wall crafts. The oldest type of such a carving is a trihedral-notched carving. This is one of the simplest methods, since it is performed with only one tool - a joint knife. For such woodcarving, you will need a simple set of items:

• lime board;
• special knife-jamb;
• ruler;
• pencil.

First, sketches of geometric shapes or a finished ornament are applied to the board. It is better for novice amateurs not to use complex drawings so that the work turns out to be flawless. For the first work, material from deciduous trees is suitable, since it is more convenient to draw straight lines on it with a sharp knife.

The wooden surface should be as smooth as possible. This is achieved by planing the board. However, it does not need to be sanded with sandpaper. Otherwise, the thread will not turn out clear and accurate, and the tool will quickly become dull.

The flat-pitted method is used to cut out recesses of various sizes and shapes on a plane. It can be oval contours and all kinds of bulges.

The slotted type of thread is also considered quite simple. It is done with a jigsaw. A sketch of any figure applied to a wooden plane is cut out along the contour. As a result, cute crafts come out. A slotted carving is used for the manufacture of background objects through which other planes are visible. It is often called openwork carving, and it is used to decorate furniture in the Baroque style. It can also be elements of cupboards, window casings, doors, and sometimes decorative screens. If crafts are attached to a special base, then this type of thread is considered to be overhead.

The process of working with a slotted method begins with a sketch, which is applied to a pre-polished workpiece. It is transferred to the surface using a special template or transparent white paper. Then holes are made on the contours and cut out on the desktop using a thin jigsaw file.

Relief carving includes two main methods: flat and deaf. In addition, the deaf option implies a low or convex relief. The bottom line is that the pattern is formed due to the main background of the surface.

The flat-relief method is performed in such a way that the pattern and the background surrounding it are made at the same depth over the entire area of ​​​​the base. Blind carving is characterized by a convex pattern that does not have a flat outline. Such products are valued for their high decorativeness and richness of composition. After all, a kind of miniature landscape is created on the plane with hills, depressions and depressions. To create such masterpieces, masters use elements of almost all types of woodcarving. Therefore, beginners should master each method separately in order to apply skills with more.

First steps on the road to mastery

History shows that wood was traditionally used to decorate a living space. Nowadays, various photographs, drawings and sketches of woodcarving are exhibited in local history museums or printed publications. This suggests that smart people who are willing to learn are able to master this art form. Wood is a wonderful natural material from which you can create decorative compositions, paintings, furniture elements and kitchen utensils. Having mastered the basics of ancient art, some have become true masters of woodcarving, devoting their whole lives to this.

Folk wisdom says: "Dashing trouble - the beginning." This is how it is if you do nothing. Practical wood carving tips for beginners open the door for brave people to the world of magnificent DIY crafts. First you need to prepare the tools and understand the basic nuances of the craft.

It is advisable for beginners to choose high-quality and durable equipment for work in order to acquire valuable craftsmanship skills.

For wood carving, you need to prepare the following tools:

• sharp knife;
• chisel;
• jigsaw;
• bit;
• drill;
• needle files;
• spoon cutter;
• bars;
• milling machine.

Of course, for beginners, it will be enough to purchase a special set of tools for woodcarving, which includes a knife, a jigsaw and an awl. With their help, it is very convenient to master the skills of ancient craftsmanship.

The next step is the choice of raw materials. This is what the quality of the product depends on. In nature, there are two types of wood: hard and soft. The first group includes mahogany, oak and beech. To the second -, aspen, pine, spruce, birch. Of course, soft wood is easier to work with, but with one wrong move, it quickly deteriorates. Despite this, it is considered the most suitable raw material for beginners.

Hardwoods are used by professionals because they are very expensive.

In addition to the strength of the material, the color of the wood also plays a key role. A suitable raw material to learn the craft is birch. It lends itself wonderfully to cutting and drilling in any direction. When choosing drawings for woodcarving, it should be borne in mind that birch wood darkens over time. Despite this, she is very easy to work with.

When the pattern is selected, it must be transferred to a wooden blank. In the age of technology, you can use ready-made photographs or drawings provided by specialists. The theme of the images is very different, but each has its own unique beauty. When everything is ready, you can start creating your own masterpieces. An invaluable help for beginners are thematic wood carving lessons.

Master class simple crafts

When you look at the finished crafts, it seems that making them is not at all difficult. Therefore, many lovers of folk crafts took up the instrument and got down to business. To cut an ordinary flower, you need to prepare the following set of items:

• wood blank;
• double soft pencil;
• tracing paper;
• chisels.

It must be borne in mind that only special chisels for woodcarving are suitable. They should be v-shaped, narrow and semicircular. The next step is drawing. It can be taken from the Internet. To do this, a sheet of paper is applied to the screen, the diagram is redrawn, and then applied to a wooden plane.

Start work from the central part of the sketch, carefully cutting out a circle. Then, using a v-shaped chisel, the petals are cut along the contour. Waste wood between them is removed in the course of work. If there is no such chisel, professional wood carving knives are suitable, which are no worse to wield in this craft.

The outer part of the petal is cut out with a semicircular chisel. It becomes similar to the outline of a heart, but it's not scary. Then cuts are made in the inner part of the petal, connecting it to the center of the flower. It remains only to round it and the flower is ready. Now you can admire the first creation of your own hands. An invaluable help for beginners is a thematic wood carving video that encourages you to immediately get to work.

Modern technology for experienced craftsmen

In the modern world, many works have long been performed mechanically. Applied craft does not lag behind in this. The use of technology enables craftsmen to save their strength and precious time. Wood carving machines make it possible to quickly and efficiently prepare the source material for work. The only drawback of such devices is their high cost, but people for whom carving is not just a hobby are ready to purchase them.

Pantograph

The device is designed to work with any wooden surfaces. It performs operations of various kinds, both volumetric and on the plane. The pantograph is used to process arcuate, bent or rotating parts. So with the help of a machine cut out various elements of furniture, statues or panels.

Drill

Excellent device for working with hard wood. It is important to take into account the properties and location of the fibers of natural material. With the help of a drill, craftsmen sharpen tools, grind wood, and, if necessary, polish it.

Wood species with dense wood that do not tend to chip are suitable for working with a drill.

CNC milling machine

This technique is mainly used for the production of wooden furniture with carved decoration. The machine is designed to work with plywood of any kind and wood. It is characterized by high functionality and technical capabilities. When working on such equipment, it is important to use special protective equipment - goggles and gloves. Also follow the instructions for use of the device.

As practice shows, such machines simplify the process of woodcarving. They make it possible to create a huge number of products in a short time. Devices are used not only in industry, but also for a personal workshop.

In any case, handmade products bring real satisfaction to a person. They create a pleasant atmosphere in the house, help to express the feelings of the master to his loved ones, and serve for the benefit of the household for a long time. Wooden crafts retain their natural beauty for a long time and never go out of style. Woodcarving is an art that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is available to anyone who wishes to master this craft. The main thing is not to be afraid of failures, but to be willing to learn, pick up tools and create masterpieces.

Wood carving video tutorial for beginners

Woodcarving is an amazingly beautiful and very popular type of manual woodworking in our time. Carved interior details captivate with their magnificent appearance and reflect rich national traditions.

Creative people who simply “itch” their hands to do something very interesting and useful should pay attention to woodcarving. Girls and women may think that this is only a male occupation. And they will be wrong, because there are no less women masters of woodcarving than men.

About woodcarving for beginners

To decorate the interior and exterior space, various types of carvings and techniques for implementing the plan can be used. If you are interested in this type of needlework, then you should understand that you need to master the methods and techniques of wood processing, acquire the necessary tools and improve your carving skills.

In the modern world of smartphones and tablets, a wooden stand decorated with wood carvings looks very original.

Skillfully executed carving in the form of simple and ornate patterns and ornaments seems to enliven the world and endows it with sophistication, charm, emphasizes the taste of the owner of luxurious things and the talent of the master.

The works of the best carvers adorn the temples. Pay attention to the photo of the iconostasis of the upper church of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which is located in Moscow, in the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Fili.

Modern masters with a delicate taste create real masterpieces.

And thanks to the technologies of finishing and protecting the finished product from the destructive effects of mold and insects, these carved wood crafts have been serving people for hundreds of years.

Pay attention to the magnificent carved pieces of furniture:

Stylish doors:

Amazing handmade figurines:

Very often, connoisseurs collect handmade carvings. Wonderful chess worthy of any collection.

Perhaps, over time, your masterpieces of woodcarving will be carefully kept by collectors or decorate temples.

Types of woodcarving

Of all types of woodcarving, the most interesting openwork or through thread on a tree, which has some transparency, in which only the image remains, without a background. An example is an overlaid carving - this is an ornament that is attached to a finished background after being made by a master.

Geometric carving on wood – this is a type of carving in which a pattern is formed using many simple geometric shapes (often a diamond is used).

Oriental carving on wood is distinguished by bizarre forms. Egypt is the cradle of oriental wood carving.

relief carving on wood. In this technique, the image is located above the background or at the same level with it. These are carved panels of various shapes with a three-dimensional image.

- This is a flat-relief carving, but distinguished by an abundance of carved and stucco decorations, various flowers, curls, leaves, figures of people in unnatural poses, fabulous fantastic animals.

It originated in the village of Kudrino. Well-known products in this type of carving are caskets, vases, dishes, ladles, and home decor items. The main element is a floral ornament: rosettes, curls and twigs.

Volumetric (sculptural) carving Great for making sculptures, animal and human figurines, toys. - a subspecies of volumetric thread. This is the main craft of the village of Bogorodskoye in the Moscow region. The famous Bogorodsk toys are figurines of animals and people made of linden and alder.

Most often used to decorate wooden Scandinavian churches. With images of Gods and various animals, wood carvers decorated inside and outside church buildings.

- the simplest and rather peculiar type of carving. On a flat background, the master cuts grooves - grooves, forming a pattern. Carved landscapes - images of landscapes on a tree.

All these types of carving are rather conditional. Each master chooses the most acceptable of them, taking into account work experience, wood quality and creative inspiration.

What can be carved?

The simplest staircase is transformed, decorated with carved balusters. Balusters- these are curly columns in the form of columns, a stylish and noble decoration of the stairs. Wooden balusters look organic with a spiral wooden staircase.

Bas-relief. Another name for "low relief". This is a sculptural image on a plane. Most often these are figures of people and animals. .

Choosing wood carving tools

As in every business, wood carving has its own secrets, nuances that allow you to reveal the beauty of wood in a wonderful ornament. It is necessary to pick up special tools for woodcarving and stock up on the necessary blanks and sketches for woodcarving, which will be embodied in the form of drawings, borders, lace or genre scenes.

Basic Toolkit

Very high demands are placed on the quality of carving tools. Of course, craftsmanship plays an important role, but well-chosen and sharpened tools will help bring your idea to life. Experienced carvers at first glance at the tool will tell about its quality, and beginners are lost in the store from a huge selection.

The basic set for woodcarving includes:

• several knives and chisels;
• needle files;
• hacksaws for metal;
• vise;
• sandpaper;
• drill with several types of drills;
• bars.

Knives should be made only from high-quality steel. It is better to buy them in specialized stores for creativity. Although at the initial stage, just sharply sharpened knives will do. Knives from Tatyanka, Narex, Kogatana and others will serve as an excellent start.

It is not necessary to choose an expensive foreign-made instrument, because domestic instruments can be of the same good quality, but much cheaper.

With the growth of skill, you may need a set of tools, a milling machine, a drill, etc.

Chisels for carving

Sometimes, instead of a chisel for wood carving, a sharpened screwdriver or file is used.

Flat chisel- This is a long rod, at the end of which there is a flat cutting edge. Very often it is used for the primary processing of wood.

Chisel semicircular It is one of the most important tools for the job. They differ somewhat in the degree of roundness, that is, they are medium, round and sloping.

Still happens V- a figurative version of chisels. It can be useful for geometric woodcarving, which we will introduce you to below.

For beginners, a small set for woodcarving, but of good quality, is enough to immediately get used to the correct movements and pressure.

In this video, a wonderful master A. Yuriev shared with us which tools to choose for carving.

How to protect yourself from injury when carving wood

Any tool of a master carver can be compared with a straight razor, therefore, when working with it, safety measures must be strictly observed. The material must be positioned so that the knife or chisel can be worked freely, eliminating the possibility of a sharp edge hitting the hands.

The place to work should be comfortable and clean. All unnecessary tools at the moment should be neatly folded, because they are very sharp and can cause injury.

Work materials

Each type of wood for carving has its pros and cons. It is easy to work with soft wood, but there can also be a lot of marriage. These are aspen, linden, birch. For beginners, this wood is best suited.

Oak, boxwood, mahogany are more expensive and complex woods. It is hard and durable, so it is difficult to carve from such wood. Very often there are troubles when working with such types of wood. Either the instrument or the master may be damaged.

An experienced carver can easily work with various woods, including juniper. Well, for beginners it is better to use inexpensive materials - spruce, pine, pear or birch.

Whatever tools are chosen for woodcarving, safety precautions must be strictly observed!

Geometric thread technology

Geometric wood carving is considered the easiest and is great for beginners. To create a conceived drawing, you need to have a small set of tools for wood carving and clearly withstand the drawing. For geometric woodcarving, symmetry and repetition are of the utmost importance. This achieves a wonderful play of light and shadow.

Cutting boards in this technique, wooden panels look great in the kitchen.

Geometric carving consists of sequential sawing out of simple geometric shapes: rectangles, triangles, squares, rhombuses. But the result is a wonderful ornament that looks different in different lighting conditions.

Execution sequence any wood carving is like this:

• First, a blank is made of wood (board, deck, blank).
• Next, a rough leveling of the workpiece surface, in which all defects and roughness are removed.
• Then a decorative relief is formed with special cutters.
• After the completion of the main thread, finishing - grinding, impregnation, painting, varnishing.

You can not work with the workpiece on your knees! The master must have a table to work with.

Master class "Geometric woodcarving on a cutting board"

Tools. You will need 2 wood carving knives: a triangular joint knife and a pen knife, a ruler, a compass, a pencil.

A triangle joint knife is needed for cutting triangular shapes of various configurations, as well as for cutting long straight lines. To cut long lines such as a petal or a groove, a pen knife is used. Carving knives should be sharp and comfortable.

First stage. We make a sketch of the pattern on the board. It can be applied with a compass and ruler. Or you can print the patterns for carving taken on the Internet and transfer them to the prepared cutting board using a carbon paper.

Second phase. Cut out the petals. We use a pen knife.

During operation, the thumb is firmly pressed against the board, and the index finger lightly touches the wood. This will help to adjust the depth of entry of the knife into the surface and the angle of inclination. And the thumb will help move the blade smoothly. First, cut in one direction at an angle, then turn the board over and cut on the other side.

If the shavings curl in a “string” - the knife is good, sharp. It must be periodically undermined with a piece of leather with GOI paste.

Third stage. Cut out the triangles with a cutter. With a “heel”, at an angle of 45 degrees, we cut the knife into a tree, without bringing it to the edges of the pattern on three sides. The slots should join on all sides in the shape of a pyramid. The sliver, falling out, forms a beautiful triangle.

Fourth stage. What could not be cut off, we carefully clean it so that the edges are frequent and even. By the same principle, we cut grooves and triangles around the perimeter of the board.

Fifth stage. We grind everything with sandpaper, process it with natural impregnation. All! The work is done. We decorate the kitchen with a useful and beautiful cutting board with wood carvings.

Drawings for woodcarving

To perform wood carving, photographs, drawings and sketches are simply necessary. A large pattern for wood carving is used for dimensional products: for the facades of houses, interior decoration with carvings of churches, windows.

For interior items and furniture, carvers use small patterns, which are carefully worked out by the master.

YOU WILL USE

We offer you an archive of . Choose, print, create.

Video wood carving workshops for beginners

Of course, the wood carving looks especially impressive in the video. Channel "HAND-CARVED WOOD" shows the features of geometric carving for beginners.

Women's view of woodcarving. Channel tatiankacarving shows us how to make flower petals and leaves.

Konstantin Belyaev on his channel he talks in detail about the cutters for woodcarving.

And on this video Ivan the Builder shows how to make relief plane carving:

We will be very happy if this article inspired you to take up woodcarving!

Of all the types of carving, the relief technique is one of the most expressive. Realistic wooden bas-reliefs, with accurate detailing, spectacular play of shadows and well-constructed composition, can truly fascinate. Relief technique can be regarded as a transitional stage to sculptural carving, rightfully considered the crowning achievement of carved art.

In this material, we will talk about the basic principles of embossed woodcarving. Our advice will be useful not only for beginner carvers, but also for masters who have already tried their hand at this technique. On the example of the proposed project, you will get acquainted with the basic principles of clean and accurate cutting, learn how to correctly model the volume, master professional secrets that will help emphasize the three-dimensional qualities of the carved composition.

What is the difference between relief carving and other techniques?

Relief technique is distinguished from flat-relief, contour, geometric and other types of non-volumetric carving, first of all, by its emphasized three-dimensional character. The main composition here comes to the fore due to the cropped background, due to which the image becomes more expressive, with a characteristic abundance of chiaroscuro.

If the main drawing of the composition rises only slightly, no more than half of the thickness of the entire product, then such a thread is called bas-relief (and the product itself is a bas-relief). With a higher and protruding relief, the carving is called high relief.

Beginner's Toolkit

To learn wood carving, it is not at all necessary to acquire an arsenal of chisels, knives and other cutters, as many tend to think. To master the basic skills of relief technique, several corner chisels (geimus) will be enough, for example, 10 mm And 6 mm, straight chisel 12 mm, radius (semicircular) 10 mm, scoring knife and a small engraver. Other types of chisels for woodcarving are appropriate to acquire as the carving skill grows.

Always keep your tool sharp. If the cutter leaves a rough mark and chips off the wood in small chips, instead of easily peeling off neat layers, this is a sure sign that the chisel needs to be sharpened. A blunt tool spoils the quality of work, requires a lot of effort when carving and does not allow a novice carver to correctly “feel” the chisel.

What wood to choose for relief carving?

The right choice of wood is the key to success for the master, mastering the intricacies of this technique. Almost all soft hardwoods are optimal for the needs of carvers: aspen, alder, birch, walnut, etc. But the main wood for most craftsmen, who are engaged not only in volume, but also in flat, flat, geometric and other types of woodcarving, is linden.

Linden is a soft and light wood with a uniform density, due to which it is particularly well processed: it is easy to cut, sharpen and plan in all directions. Linden almost does not warp and does not dry out, does not emit tannins, therefore it is considered an ideal raw material, including for the manufacture of dishes. The disadvantage of linden is its poor coloring in other colors.

Development of relief carving skills on the example of the project "Fox"

We will tell you step by step how to make a bas-relief carving on a tree using the example of a simple Fox project. As a blank, we recommend using a saw cut of linden or an ordinary board from any other soft hardwood.

To transfer a drawing to a wooden base, carbon paper is used as the simplest and most effective solution. If necessary, the lines of carbon paper can be easily erased, making the necessary changes as you go. To prevent the pattern from shifting during the transfer process, fix the wooden blank or place a rubber backing under it. Think about where to place the image in order to make the composition look more lively and interesting. In our case, we will shift it from the center to the bottom (photo 1).

To cut the outer contour, use a corner chisel #12 (blade width 10 mm/corner 60°). It will allow not only to make a neat outline of the main figure, but also immediately remove a significant part of the background (photo 2).

Technique for cutting with a corner chisel:

• Hold the tool tightly with your left hand, and push it forward with your right hand; the correct grip of the chisel will allow you to accurately guide the cutter, keep a neat cut line and prevent the blade from slipping off the contour.
• Mark the main contour of the lines with a cutter, then cut them to the desired depth (in our case 4-5 mm). By cutting the wood a little at a time, you will have better control over the carving process and reduce the risk of chipping.
• Overcoming the resistance of the wood, evenly distribute the pressure on the chisel, achieving a smooth and uniform surface.
• When working with a chisel, consider the direction of the wood fibers, because. the incisor always tends to move along solid annual rings.
• Under no circumstances point the chisel in your direction: cut away from you or hold the tool parallel to your chest.
• Work with the chisel right behind the pencil lines, leaving them visible.

The essence of embossed woodcarving lies in the correct and accurate removal of the background. Mastering this skill is a responsible task for a novice carver. Radius chisels (semicircular or sloping) help to remove a lot of background with minimal effort. In our case, we will leave the background of the composition in the form of wide decorative grooves (photo 3). If necessary, it can be made even using a flat chisel.

Having formed the background, we will return to the corner chisel and once again “finish” we will walk along the contour of the main composition (photo 4). After we trim the background (photo 5).

Corner chisels are optimal as a tool for fine contouring #15 (blade width 6 mm/corner 45°) or #16 (blade width 6 mm/corner 35°).

Outline the fox's eye, keeping the pencil outline (Pic 6). Go down and work on the mouth: carefully select the background around the teeth and inside the mouth (photo 7). Be guided by the volume and laws of perspective in the composition: since the front teeth are in the foreground, they should be slightly overestimated. Work on the nose area.

To work out the shape of the head, use a radius (sloping) chisel with a width 10 mm. Start with the ears: make the left ear in the foreground taller (Pic 8).

Round the shape of the head (Pic 9), making a smooth transition to the muzzle, which should remain flatter and without pronounced volume (Pic 10).

When working on specific areas, do not forget to periodically evaluate the overall composition: how well the volume flows, how the perspective is worked out, etc. Here, every detail is interconnected with each other. Relief carving should be perceived as an integral composition, and not a collage from a set of carved elements.

To work on this element, use a cerasik - a deep semicircular chisel with a width 5 mm(photo 11). This narrow tool is well suited for working out small elements and creating sheet relief.

Make a neat trim around the entire perimeter of the sheet so that it stands out well from the overall composition and, as it were, is torn off from the background (photo 12). Having outlined the main contour and selected the background around the sheet, proceed to cut out the veins (photo 13). When you have finished shaping the relief, cut off all the remaining flat places with a engraver (photo 14).

Create a deep shadow above the eye with a scoring knife, line the lower eyelid with the chisel, and give the eye a roundness (Pic 15).

Finish with a cutter the study of small elements of the mouth (photo 16).

Imitating the texture of wool is an important skill that every carver needs to work out, because in the future you will repeatedly encounter the carving of various animals. In the presented project, fox fur is created according to the simplest scheme: cerazik 5 mm short and shallow strokes are made (arrows indicate the direction of natural growth of the animal's hair) (photo 17).

For greater naturalism, you can work out the texture of the wool with a thin steel cutter - a chisel. Work on the texture until there is not a single flat spot left.

How to clean wood carving?

With careful work, the sharpest cutters almost always remain rough spots and minor defects that need to be eliminated. For cleaning recessed places and trimming small chips, use a small engraver. Volumetric surfaces are cleaned sandpaper P150. To finally make sure that there are no unnoticed minor defects, wipe the picture with a rag soaked in white spirit, and once again carefully examine it from different angles. When all the flaws are cleaned, you can start finishing.

How to cover wood carving?

For a monochromatic finish, the following compositions are used:

wood stain . In flat-relief carving, they are used not only to give the wood a more noble appearance. With the help of stains, they enhance the contrast of certain areas, they, in turn, emphasize the relief and volume of the composition. To achieve this effect, it is enough to apply stain to deep sections of the thread, which should appear shaded.

If you decide to completely tint your work, you need to use the stain carefully, taking into account the type of wood and the features of the workpiece on which the composition is carved. Under the influence of moisture, a small-relief carving can swell, warp, it can form a raised pile and other defects that will irreparably spoil the appearance of the work. A common flaw in the staining of threads is the heterogeneity of tone, which is especially often manifested in the places where the bars are glued together.

relief carving

When performing a flat-relief carving, the image is located in one plane, while the relief, diverse in pattern and composition, is revealed in a peculiar way. To do this, the background surrounding the element or ornament is selected or deepened. As a result, the relief appears more convex and distinct (Fig. 84).

Rice. 84. Ornamental stripe made in the technique of flat-relief carving

Secrets between the lines

Is it possible to correct mistakes made when cutting out a figure?

For this, a certain stock of material is provided. Otherwise, this cannot be done. But in some cases it is possible, for example, to lengthen the arm by increasing its bend at the elbow (of course, if the composition allows). If you need to shorten the arm, reduce the bend in the elbow joint.

The formation and development of flat-relief carving was significantly influenced by the Abramtsevo-Kudrinskaya carving, which was mentioned above, and the work of V. Vornoskov, which we also already talked about. Flat-relief carving allows the carver to realize various ideas, embodying them in compositions depicting not only vegetation, but also animals, birds and humans. The technique of this carving is labor intensive and requires not only a rich set of carving tools, but also relevant experience and a certain level of skill.

Flat-relief carving is represented by several varieties that differ in the technique of execution. This is a carving with an oval contour, with a matched background and a pillow background (Fig. 85).

Let's dwell on them in more detail.

Rice. 85. Varieties of flat-relief carving: A- with an oval contour; b- with selected background: 1 – chasing background; 2 - cutting with a corner; 3 - cutting with a semicircular chisel; V- with cushion background

Carving with oval contours

Of all the types of flat-relief carving, this option is the least difficult. In terms of execution technique, it is similar to contour carving, since the contour of the pattern is a dihedral recess (Fig. 86).

Rice. 86. Performing a flat-relief carving with an oval contour (the arrows show the direction of movement of the tool); A- incision; b- pruning; V- folded contour

Secrets between the lines

How to determine the center of gravity of a human figure?

Finding the center of gravity of a figure depends on the position it occupies in space. In a calm position, the projection of the center of gravity falls on the area, which is limited by the outer sides of the feet and the line connecting the socks and heels. If the projection does not correspond to this area, then the figure will "fall", even if it is installed on a solid stand. The center of gravity of a moving person is shifted slightly forward.

The sequence of work is as follows: first of all, the pattern is cut along the contour, which can be done both with a jamb knife and with the edge of a sloping chisel, while holding the tool almost vertically (the tool must be such that it allows cutting and trimming the curvilinear forms of the ornament in one cut along direction of the wood fibers). After that, cropping is carried out from the side of the background.

In conclusion, the edge is ovalized from the side of the ornament, making sure that it, in contrast to the trimming on the border with the background, rounds off more steeply. The result is an image with soft curved lines and no harsh shadows.

Secrets between the lines

How to achieve the correct position of the head?

One drawing is often not enough. A three-dimensional sketch will help clarify the position of the head. To establish the rotation of the head, an axis of symmetry is drawn along the rough workpiece, which helps to check the correct position of the head relative to the torso, and the chin in relation to the shoulders. At the same time, it is important to achieve an artistic generalization - to choose a characteristic type, without overloading the figure with small or minor details.

Carving with matched background

The execution of this type of flat-relief carving does not differ in technique from that described above, with the exception of the processing of the background (Fig. 87).

Rice. 87. Performing a flat-relief carving with a selected background: A- notch; b- pruning; V– selection and cleanup of the background and the vertical edge of the contour; G- folded contour

The nature of the background processing (sampling to the required width and depth) depends on the characteristics of the picture and the desire to give it expressiveness and a special decorative effect. The background can be covered with embossing or various profile cuts, which will also help create a special visual effect.

Technically, a flat-relief carving with a selected background looks like this. An incision is made along the contour of the pattern, and it deviates slightly from the line of the pattern in the direction of the background, due to which the edge of the ornament remains intact when the background is selected.

At the end of the work, the edge is cut, holding the tool vertically, exactly along the line of the drawing, then the edge of the contour is rolled over.

Trimming is carried out to a certain depth, which should be the same over the entire plane of the ornament.

To make the work look neat, without scratches, when cleaning the background, pay attention to the direction of the layers of wood.

To work with soft wood, it is enough to use a conventional carving tool; when carving hard wood, an additional mallet is used.

Carving with pillow background

A characteristic feature of the background in this kind of flat-relief carving is that it is never flat. The type of carving got its name due to the fact that the pattern is steeply ovalized from the side of the contour and somewhat more sloping from the side of the background, which, as a result, becomes similar in shape to a small pillow. Carving is done while standing.

The sequence of threading with a pillow background is shown in fig. 88.

Rice. 88. Performing a flat-relief carving with a pillow background (the arrows show the direction of movement of the tool): A- notch along the contour of the picture; b– clipping towards the top of the background; V- curling the background and outline of the picture

The pillow background makes the image more picturesque, voluminous compared to the carving with oval or matched backgrounds, which look much stricter and more graphic.

Secrets between the lines

What is the role of the part in carving?

The details are intended to enhance the artistic impression produced by the image. In addition, thanks to her, the product looks finished. For example, how to depict a human hand? In such cases, everything depends on the distance from which the figure will be viewed. If from afar, then there is no need for the finest elaboration of the fingers, so the hand is represented by a silhouette. If the distance is small, then such a hand without fingers will look unfinished, and all the work will be raw. But you should not get carried away with details either, as this overloads the image and reduces the impression.

This text is an introductory piece. From the book Stylish DIY Jewelry. Beads, bracelets, earrings, belts, headbands and hairpins author Khvorostukhina Svetlana Alexandrovna

Carving Carving is one of the most difficult types of decoration, because it requires a certain amount of experience and precise hand movements. For this work you will need very sharp knives with thin blades. Carving is best done on thick leather, then carved patterns can

From the book Secrets of Wood Carving author Serikova Galina Alekseevna

Flat thread As follows from the name of the thread, its background is a flat surface (both the workpiece and the object being decorated), and the pattern consists of recesses (recesses) of various shapes. Flat serrated threads are subdivided into contour and

From the book Wood carving [Techniques, techniques, products] author Podolsky Yuriy Fedorovich

Relief carving Of the presented varieties, relief carving is the most expressive, therefore, in former times, wall panels, furniture, doors and ceilings were covered with it. It is still relevant when decorating the interior. There are 2 types of relief carving -

From the author's book

Slotted carving The name of this type of carving means that with this method of processing wood, the background is removed. Therefore, such a thread is otherwise called sawn or through.

From the author's book

Sculptural carving Sculptural carving is the most ancient and dates back to the time when people carved figures of pagan gods from wood, whom they worshiped and from whom they sought help and protection.

From the author's book

House carving The name of this type of carving speaks for itself: house carving is intended for external decoration of a dwelling and its interior decoration. By the nature and technique of execution, house carving is heterogeneous and can be relief, slotted and

From the author's book

Flat serrated thread Flat serrated thread is characterized by the fact that its background is the flat surface of the decorated product or workpiece, and the pattern is formed by recesses of various shapes - recesses. The lowest points of the relief are located below the level of the decorated

From the author's book

Relief carving The essence of relief carving is that a pattern (drawing) is formed by sampling the background around it. Such a sample can be uniform in depth. In this case, the formed pattern (drawing) will have the same height (usually 5–7 mm) throughout

From the author's book

Slotted carving Slotted carving can be made both in the technique of flat-relief (with a flat ornament) and embossed carving. The background in the slotted thread is removed with a chisel or saw. In the latter case, the thread is called sawn. The slotted thread has received a wide

From the author's book

Sculptural carving Sculptural or three-dimensional carving is characterized by the fact that in it the relief image is partially or completely separated from the background, turning into a sculpture. Unlike a one-sided image of an object in other types of threads, volumetric threads can be

From the author's book

House carving House carving is characterized by the fact that it is large-scale, performed mainly on coniferous wood with an ax, saw, chisel and is used to decorate wooden buildings. Although house carving was already popular in the 16th century, before us

From the author's book

Contour carving According to the execution technique, contour carving as a variety of geometric is the simplest. Images made in this way resemble a clear graphic drawing. Applying various types of cuts and combinations of straight lines, curves,

From the author's book

Geometric thread All elements of geometric thread are the simplest geometric shapes formed by straight and curved lines or a combination of tetrahedral or semicircular grooves. The main elements of geometric carving are dihedral,

From the author's book

Flat-relief carving with an oval outline A carving with an oval outline is the simplest type of flat-relief carving. It is not laborious, with skillful execution it creates a juicy beautiful pattern. According to the execution technique, this thread resembles a contour thread, since the contour

From the author's book

Flat-relief carving with a pillow background This flat-relief carving is a kind of carving with an oval contour, but here the lines are oval both from the side of the contour and from the background (Fig. 27). As in the previous case, from the side of the background, the contour

From the author's book

Flat-relief carving with a selected (selected) background This type of flat-relief carving is characterized by different heights of the ornament and background and makes it possible to depict the ornament with a clearer silhouette. The background around the motifs is chosen with a chisel on the same