ARTISTIC CARVING

The windows of almost every hut in a Central Russian or northern village are decorated with carved decorative architraves. With the most rare exceptions, their pattern never repeats. The attic window, the gate of the peasant house, is decorated with carvings, simple geometric or juicy, with floral patterns. The carving gives them a deeply individual look. Some houses have such perfect carved decorations that they are rightfully considered works of folk arts and crafts. And this is not surprising. Artistic carving is one of the most ancient and widespread types of arts and crafts. Carvings decorate buildings, household items, create works of small plastic - small miniature sculptures. special kind artistic carving - glyptic. This is the name of carving on stones, precious and semi-precious.

The most common material for carving is soft wood of hardwood trees: linden, aspen, poplar. Less commonly used hardwoods: birch, maple, beech. When carving stone, soft rocks are also used, mainly limestone, and hard rocks - jade, lapis lazuli, jasper. When carving bone, walrus tusk, elephant and mammoth tusks, horn, etc. are used.

Carvers work with a variety of sets of knives, axes, chisels, cutters and saws, and mark a block or plate of material with special marking tools. Several types of artistic carving are known.

Bogorodskaya toy. Woodcarving.

Bogorodskaya toy. Woodcarving.

Miniature three-dimensional plastic is usually called volumetric carving. With high-relief carving, the background of a pattern or pattern is greatly deepened. The image is convex, often multifaceted, rich in black and white contrasts. Flat-relief carving requires a shallow background. The image is low, close to the silhouette. Often it is processed with additional cuts. The edges of the pattern are often rounded, “ovalized” (this type of carving is called ovalized). Its main advantage is a soft and juicy drawing on a background that is slightly deepened or completely untouched by the chisel. In this case, the background forms, as it were, a kind of pillow. That's what it's called - a pillow.

Woodcarving. Bashkiria.

Notched, or recessed, carving is very common. It is performed in trihedral-notched and stapled technique. A trihedral-notched carving cuts out a geometric ornament, the forms of which are based on triangular, conical or square pyramids, arrow-shaped or semi-lunar recesses, overturned into the depths of the material. The most diverse combinations of these simple elements give a diverse geometric pattern with a beautiful texture and a rich play of chiaroscuro. A type of geometric thread is a bracket thread. Working with a chisel, the carver receives a stapled recess, or nail. Both types of carving are characterized by geometric clarity of lines, picturesque play of chiaroscuro. Contour carving is also distinguished by clear, expressive lines.

Openwork, or through, carving is obtained by completely removing the background. It is widely used in the manufacture of carved furniture and for decorating peasant houses. In the latter case, it is called saw thread. This is how decorative platbands, valances, cornices, towels, etc. are cut. With openwork carving, the ornament is the most diverse: from the simplest geometric to the most intricate floral pattern, images of birds, animals, various fantasy creatures. Its main advantage is a light and thin drawing, well readable in the light.

Sometimes individual details decorative design object, made in the technique of openwork carving, superimposed on a smooth background. This type of thread is called overhead.

Very often, wooden products decorated with artistic carvings are varnished, waxed, tinted, gilded, painted and painted with paints, fired or smoked. Bone products are polished and impregnated with paraffin.

The art of carving according to the most various materials widespread in folk art crafts. In our country and abroad, carved wooden products from villages near Moscow, Shemogoda slotted birch bark, carved bone products from Tobolsk, Ural, Kholmogory, Khotkovo and Chukchi masters are famous.

T. V. Amosov, S. S. Nesterov. Bone carving.
Yakutia.

T. V. Amosov, S. S. Nesterov. Bone carving.
Yakutia.

Artistic woodcarving has always attracted the attention of connoisseurs of decorative woodworking. The creation of various figures from wood, carved furniture depicting any scenes of people's lives at any time was especially popular among carvers. Various types threads are available not only experienced craftsmen but also for beginners in this art form.

The picture is made of artistic woodcarving

It is possible to achieve certain results in this matter not only thanks to talent, but also to constant learning. Deciding to engage in this type of art, you need to study different kinds woodcarving. Exists a large number of carving methods that allow you to create carved products.

A particularly large number of fans are found in the artistic wood carving "Tatyanka". This style originates from the end of the twentieth century. The founder of this method was Shamil Sasykov, who was a master of artistic carving in this way and knew all the subtleties of this direction.

Born in 1990 as a result of a creative experiment, the style has become a whole art system. Education this style more than 10 thousand people have already passed.

Wooden carved plate carved by Tatyanka

Its peculiarity is that it is possible to process the product with the help of special ones only 1 time. Carving in the style of "Tatyanka" is based on the principle of single processing, so this technique allows you to create various decorative elements using special tools.

If you use other methods of relief carving, then the forms will take longer to complete than using the Tatyanka style for woodcarving.

The tool is selected taking into account the characteristics of the tree species, which can be soft or hard. Carving tools must be well sharpened. Since the Tatyanka carving style is multi-layered, you will need to move from one stage to another. Having cut out the elements of the first layer of poor quality, it will be impossible to arrange the next ones beautifully and correctly.

Kitchen board made in the style of Tatyanka

To optimize the performance of the work will require careful study of the stages artistic processing tree. The phased reproduction of each detail, as well as their location on the surface of the board, must be thought out. Due to one wrong movement, the restoration of an incorrectly cut element will be impossible.

Artistic woodworking in the style of carving "Tatyanka" is a promising type of carving. A home master who has mastered this type of carving technique will always have a job. These products are popular with customers.

Other types of thread for beginners: flat, through, and. Unlike the above methods, popular view carving "Tatyanka" requires less time and effort than other methods. This technique is multi-layered and requires careful study of the upper and lower layers.

Woodworking Techniques

Artistic wood carving, depending on the technique of its implementation, involves the use of appropriate tools that are intended for a particular method.

For example, for a through thread, which should have a three-dimensional appearance, a chisel, a jigsaw or a saw are used. This type thread is also called openwork, it is used for. The volume is given to the product due to the relief carving. Its main requirement is related to the execution of drawings on the same level with the background or above it.

The technique involves pillow and selected background. In the first case, the background with the picture must be on the same level, the second method requires the location of the picture above the background.

Staged execution relief carving

Making sculptures out of wood with a chainsaw has become popular today. Sculptural carving can be considered the most complex of all techniques, but at the same time quite interesting. Embodiment correct proportions into an untreated tree is able to turn him into a person or an animal. Usually the master transfers the mood, using three-dimensional details and making the image more alive.

Read also

Carved wooden cornices

Before moving on to more complex work, you should take for training simple sketches for carving, using books on carving, which indicate the usual schemes and sketches with a detailed description. To begin with, figures of small sizes are cut out, taking into account small details. Competent artistic wood carving requires constant training to improve the skills of creating carved products.


Flat wood processing can be of the following types:

1. Geometric.
2. Nail-like.
3. Black-lacquer.

To perform these types of equipment, you need: sketches, a knife, a chisel, a tree. Creating a geometric carved pattern involves cutting out rhombuses, hexagons, squares under different angles. Making recesses with a chisel at an angle of 90 °, and next to it acute angle involves creating a picture using a lot of brackets on a blank made of wood.

Creating a pattern using triangular or round grooves is a contour carving technique. If before work the surface is coated with varnish or black paint, and then they begin to cut out the pattern, then it will look very impressive in its finished form.

Requirements for carving in the style of "Tatyanka"

Caskets made in the style of Tatyanka

Workplace characteristics

Artistic processing of wood is carried out with constant observance of the requirements for the workplace. A carver in the Tatyanka style needs any wooden plane with a flat surface: a workbench, a stool, a table or a window sill. The best way a table or workbench is suitable as it is heavy and has a wooden top.

A polished table is also suitable, on which you can put a piece of plywood or a drawing board 20 × 20 cm or more. This will protect the tool from damage if it accidentally breaks off and sticks into the countertop. The training board is not fixed during work, which is carried out without emphasis. If the workpiece is made of linden, then it is soft enough, so it can rest against something hard. After that, dents will form on the surface.

Drawing arrangement of the workplace for wood carving

Lighting should be natural or with a wide spectrum, since the whole process of work is painstaking and requires great care. Well, if the table with the lamp will stand near the window. Light should not shine into the eyes from the board. Since the pencil sketches will fade as the work progresses (“disappearing drawing”), the end result should be a clean wood that has no color contrast. The uneven terrain casts shadows that are clearly visible.

A training board that dries up during work needs to be periodically moistened in order to maintain it in working condition. Humidity should be around 12-15%. The board can be moistened in advance by soaking the ends.

Workplace for carving

Each board is characterized by its own parameters, therefore, it is possible to analyze the results of wetting only empirically, which will allow us to calculate the frequency of wetting the board.

Material for creating a product

Wood for carving should have a flat and smooth surface. There should be no knots or other flaws on the tree. If there is a desire to use wood with knots, then any of them can be beaten in the process. In the future, you can develop the composition if you are guided by the idea and technique of carving.

Linden is best suited for creating an interesting carving in the Tatyanka style.

Such material is not only easily cut in any direction, but also suitable for novice carvers. When choosing a board, it is necessary to pay attention to the end of the material, where the wood is chosen to be homogeneous, dense and not loose.


If the board is close to the bark, that is, at the edge of the log, where the placement of the layers in relation to the surface is gentle, dense wood can be used. This board can be easily cut into 2 pieces. Any section of wood with a uniform density can be carved better.

Woodcarving is an amazingly beautiful and very popular type of manual woodworking in our time. Carved interior details conquer 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 necessary tools and improve carving skills.

IN modern world smartphones and tablets 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 Holy Mother of God in Fili.

Modern masters with fine taste create true masterpieces.

And thanks to finishing and protection technologies finished product from the destructive effects of mold, insects, these carved wood crafts have served 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 use a rhombus).

Oriental carving on wood is distinguished by bizarre forms. Egypt is the cradle oriental look 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. 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 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 skill plays 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 on initial stage just 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 tool, because domestic tools can be 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. Everything superfluous in this moment Tools must be neatly stacked as 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 fit better Total.

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 work thumb firmly pressed against the board, and forefinger easily 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 woodcarving is used for dimensional products: for facades of houses, interior decoration 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!