Your wood carving steps can be just the first steps in a larger project. In this sample, Mandala Fish, the basic fish shape has been relief wood carved on a 3/4″ basswood slab. This is a simple rounded over carving that was sanded smooth after the cutting strokes were done. Next I traced my mandala pattern and used my wood burner to outline the pattern details. Colored pencils finish this project bring a bright rainbow of hues to my design.
Is it a carving? Is it a wood burning? Is it mandala work? Is it colored pencil art?
YES!
Many of our carving and pyrography ideas come directly from other fine art styles and media of works. This Lantern fish is a permanent marking pen drawing on Bristol board, brightly accented with colored pencils. It was the inspiration for the wood carving fish above. Want a free pattern to try your own mixed media fish design. Here’s one! And I have two free pattern packs, ready to download, on my pattern website at ArtDesignsStudio.com.
And … one more idea that fits better in the fish tank then in the standard hobby box. You can use any pattern as the bases for your next practice board. Just because you want a chance to check your tip temperature, establish your strokes and textures, or set your tonal value before you work on your main project doesn’t mean that practice board needs to be a boring, useless grid design.
I have listed the tools that I used during this relief project. You do not need these exact brands or products. As this is a beginner’s level work, so please use what tools you already have. The manufacturers are listed in case you see a tool, tool set, or wood burner that you particularly like.
Below are either Amazon affiliate links or links directly to the manufacturer’s website.
Schaaf Wood Carving Tools: Set of 12 with Canvas Case – Full Size Gouges and Chisels for Beginners, Hobbyists and Professionals | Sharp, Quality-Tested CR-V 60 Steel Blades
Chipping Away: (I have used my Chipping Away Large knife for almost three decades … and it just performs perfectly every time.) Large chip carving knife white fine ceramic sharpening stone brown coarse ceramic sharpening stone leather strop and rouge
Ramelson Tools:(I began with Ramelson and still find myself reaching for their tools during every project) UJ Ramelson Basic Woodcarving Tool Set
Japanese Carving Sets: (This is a great set for almost all wood carving projects and the sets that I use for spoon carving as well as relief carving. The small hand set includes a bull nose chisel, one of my favorites.) WAYCOM 24PCS Wood Knife Kit Set Wood Carving Kit,Professional Chisel Set, including Small, Middle, Large size (24PCS)
Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner:Wire Tip Wood Burning Tool (This is their variable temperature tool with interchangeable wire tips, perfect if you also do wood burning.)
Walnut Hollow Creative Versa Tool: with Variable Temperature Control for Woodburning, 11 Points (Tips), Original Version, Basic Pack (This is their one piece rheostat tool which is great if you are just starting in wood burning or if you will only be doing burned details on your carvings.)
Optima Wood Burner: small round shader tip, modified (ball) writing tip, coarse hair tip (Fantastic unit for advanced burners.)
Detailer Basic Woodburning Kit: ( FTC standard writing tip, FTD small round tip, FT Ball 3 round tip (Fantastic unit for advanced burners and it comes with Sue Walter’s Book, Pyrography Workbook!)
Flexcut Slipstrop: Sharpening Kit with Strop and Gold Polishing Compound
Saral Graphite Transfer Paper: (I like Saral because of its soft gray coloring. Its great for wood burning where you might not be able to remove all of your tracing lines.)
Set of Rifling Files:SE 10-Piece 7” Riffler File Set – 736RF (This is a small set of files that let’s you get into your undercuts and sharp joint lines)
ink pen for tracing pencil for marking the board compass file folder or index cards for depth gauges bracing board or bench hook:(DIY instructions here at LSIrish.com) non-skid rubber kitchen matt Minwax Water-Based Sanding Sealer assorted grits, including 220 grit sandpaper assorted sift ox hair brushes for dusting assorted oil paint/ox hair brushes for painting polyurethane spray sealer Acrylic craft paints: titanium white, medium earth red-brown, yellow ocher, Paynes gray, carbon black, hooker green Oil paint for antiquing: burnt umber, turpentine, linseed oil clean cotton t-shirt material for antiquing
Relief Wood Carving – the fine art of using chisels, gouges, and knives to remove small chips from a flat wood board to create a three dimensional design. That design can be worked as a low relief with smooth side walls to each element, a high relief carving where undercuts are made on higher elements to cast shadows on lower elements, and in intaglio where the design is cut in reverse – down into the wood to create a mold.
Let’s start this summer of fun with an in-depth look at chip carving with free chip carving patterns, step-by-step instructions, and lots of photos. Hours of fun, carving, and learning!
