How To Carve A Simple Woodspirit Face: Part 2

Part 2 (of2) This woodspirit is a great first carving project for the beginning woodcarver and can be considered as an entry-level into faces. I've been using this simple and basic woodspirit face for many years as a teaching tool for helping the students in my woodshop class learn the elements of carving their own. I've been continiously amazed at how so many of my students actually grasp the concept of carving faces as they have produced some wonderful creations of their own over the years. It just takes a lot of practice and a strong desire to "get there".

After presenting some basic information on the different types of cuts most students can use one of my woodspirit learning sticks and do a fairly good job. If you decide to give it a try don't expect to have a masterpiece on the first few attempts. When I first started carving faces in wood I wasn't satisfied until about my 30th one!

Carving faces takes a lot of time, patience, and practice. Study peoples faces while you are at work, at home, or at play and try to understand how all the parts fit together. As I mentioned in the video first carve the nose and the eyes, then base everything else around that and you will be well on your way.

The woodspirit produced in this video was carved from a 1" X 1" piece of basswood. Perhaps in another video I will demonstrate how I carve a woodspirit with more detail such as raised eyebrows, eyes, teeth, tongues, and a variety of emotion and facial expressions. However it is
very important that you first become comfortable with carving this very basic face then you should challenge yourself to the next level. Learning how to finish the face with stain or paint washes is another skill to achieve that is equal by comparison to learning to carve.

In the video I used the "Carvin' Jack" knife made by Flexcut and I just can't say enough good things about it. I'm also planning to do a full review video on it in the near future so please stay tuned.

As always, never-ever compromise your safety. When carving always wear a glove on the non-carving hand and be sure that it's made from a high quality cut resistant material such as Kevlar. If your project isn't clamped or held secure on a table with a vise then be sure to use a lap board to protect your legs. (A piece of 1/2" ply board will work.) Above all be patient and never-ever force your knife. Learn to be safe and carve your project one thin slice at a time until you achieve the correct depth. If you've never had any carving experience then I would strongly suggest that you seek personal instruction from a professional carver and/or study carving manuals such as the Boy Scout Woodcarving merit badge booklet.

Be safe and have fun!

This video is also being used as part of blog entry at my blog:
http://woodtrails.blogspot.com

Music "Double Blues" is royalty free and courtesy of Jason Shaw
http://www.youtube.com/user/audionautix#p/

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• woodcarving
• woodspirit
• greenman
• craft
• wood
• Dave Brock

[HillsnHollers446]

My Carvin' Jack is a right handed model.

In answer to Remoc the very best carving advice that I have would be to carve something every single day. Not many folks are born with the ability to churn out excellent carvings in the beginning (I sure couldn't) and it takes many years of just refusing to give up. Just carve on something every single day and you will get better.

Thanks for so many kind words everyone!

[HillsnHollers446]

Sorry to be so late in answering. As someone mentioned I used the Carvin' Jack made by Flexcut. Personally I love it but it might not be best suited for a beginner carver and it could be best to learn with traditional single knives.

As for antiquing, I just recently posted a video on my method so I'm sure that you've found it by now.

The wood used in the video is basswood. Carving wood just don't get much better that that. Thanks for all the comments!

[InteligentMan]

What is the name of the tool you are using?

[88Kamikaze69]

Damn it, after spotting this carvin jack tool I just HAVE TO have it ^^

It's bloody expensive though but it seems everyone using it a lot thinks it is a long lasting tool so I hope the investment will be worth it.

Surprised after a lot of google-fu to find that no one has made a competitor to it though, I would have thought victorinox would have made something like this for sure, but no :/

[antifreindly]

@NowIhaveamachinegun pocket sized

[cw3849]

@Dannothemanno98 ~ I get my basswood at Michaels Craft Store.

[cw3849]

Great video, thank you. Can you tell me where I can get one og them knives? ~ Thanks again.

[NowIhaveamachinegun]

Well, that was fun. I think mine would have turned out better if I didn't use a 1/2" x 1/2" stick of wood. It looks alright, just very small, so I couldn't get all the details real smooth and discernible. But very good video!

[Dannothemanno98]

Anybody know where to get basswood??

[TheSnipaAssasin]

man i wish i had the money to buy enough wood to carve every day :( and a sharpener, my knife is crazy dull xD

[Mango025]

Great video! Where did you get that multi-tool? I am just starting out with carving and have been looking for gouge sets, but to start with one of those tools would be amazing. Also, how do you sharpen your gouges (on that tool specifically)?

[peacelovehippychick]

this is awesome. i couldn't take my eyes off the screen, but your voice is so soft and relaxing that you're putting me to sleep. you have very good control of the knife and make it look easier than it really is, i'm sure. lol