Beautiful wood carving work. Wood carving art by david esterley. Work materials

Volumetric, contour and geometric wood carving are one of the most ancient methods of decorating a wide variety of products. By and large, nothing is needed for work except a wooden blank and a fairly sharp knife: with proper skill, a carved casing, a beautiful toy, or any other product can be obtained.

Of course, you will get masterpieces only after many years of practice. But you can start mastering carving from the simplest details: just study this article and understand the basics.

Thread types

Despite the fact that the simplest tools are used in working with a tree, and the processing techniques are not difficult, the result can be very different. Depending on the appearance the machined surface is distinguished by the following types of thread:

1. contour thread- perhaps the simplest (outwardly, not in terms of execution technique). The pattern is applied to a flat surface with shallow lines, forming the contours of the pattern.
2. Geometric carving- the most common due to ease of development. Unlike contour, patterns are formed not by lines, but by a combination of geometric shapes, most often wedge-shaped recesses.

1. Flat serrated thread - the technology of applying an ornament or pattern on a flat board. At the same time, recesses are cut out on a flat background, which form the pattern we need.

A variation of this technique is also considered a through thread, in which not only recesses, but also holes are formed in the workpiece.

1. sculptural carving(volumetric) - the most difficult technique. A chock, branch or root is taken as a blank, after which the part is given the desired shape. Here it is important not only the skill of the carver, but also how competently the wood is selected.

Of course, this classification is very arbitrary, but it gives an idea of ​​where you can strive to improve your skills.

What do you need to work?

Carver's tools

To do wooden Toys, carved frames, platbands and other decorative objects, the master needs the right tools. In addition to the usual carpentry (saw, drill, file), you need to use special tools:

Illustration	Tool	Purpose
	joint knife	A versatile tool that is used for both geometric woodcarving and sculptural work.
	Chisels	The most extensive group of tools used to form recesses. Depending on the shape of the edge, the following varieties are distinguished: flat; semicircular; corner; bracketed.
	Cranberries	Special chisels with a curved working part. With their help, a relief carving with a strong deepening is performed.
	Spoon cutters	As the name suggests, special tools for making wooden spoons. The special shape of the blade (ring or semi-ring with one-sided sharpening) allows you to effectively select large volumes of wood.

The price of professional cutting tools is quite high. And yet, a novice master should not save money: it is better to purchase several knives and chisels of decent quality. Then the first experience will not be spoiled, and it will be possible to focus on mastering the techniques and techniques of carving.

Choice of wood

Artistic carving requires the formation of a fairly clear relief. And for this you need not only suitable tools, but also the appropriate material. Not every wood is suitable for carving, and if you are just starting to master the technique, then you need to be very meticulous in choosing:

1. Linden- Ideal for the beginner. The material is soft and homogeneous, therefore it is better to master the most complex patterns for woodcarving on linden.
2. Alder (red and black)- also very a good option, albeit denser. Ideally cut, almost does not warp when dried. The main downside is hard to find!

1. Birch- firmer and more resilient, but at the same time quite suitable for learning the basics of carving. When dried, it can be deformed, therefore, small products are usually cut from birch.
2. Oak- a great option, but only for an experienced master. The relief is perfect, but you need a very sharp tool and a confident hand.

1. Pear- wood with high density and good uniformity. The structure of the material allows you to make the thinnest products.

From a tree of these species, it is first necessary to cut blanks, dry them, and, if necessary, process them rough. Only after that, drawings and sketches are applied to them, according to which carving is carried out.

Techniques and techniques for geometric carving

In fact, all work on a carved detail comes down to three operations:

1. Training- selection and roughing of the workpiece, transferring the pattern.
2. Actually carving- drawing a relief pattern.
3. Finishing- elimination of defects, grinding, varnishing, etc.

Instructions for performing basic threading operations are shown in the table.

Wood carver Grinling Gibbons, who lived in the 17th century, is often referred to as the most eminent craftsman in his field. Contemporary author David Esterly is less well-known but no less talented. A case prompted him to take up carving, but now David cannot imagine himself without his favorite pastime and creates real masterpieces.

In the 70s of the last century, David Esterley went into one of the London churches and was struck to the core - but not by the divine liturgy, but by a part of the altar, which is a plant pattern masterfully carved from wood, created in the 17th century by Grinling Gibbons. David could not leave the work of this man without attention and decided to write a book about him. In order to better understand the master, he bought a piece of wood and tools and began to master the basics of carving himself. It did not turn out very well, besides, Esterly always believed that he did not have artistic abilities. But he didn't give up, trying again and again. Soon, wood carving fascinated him so much that David forgot about the book he was going to write, and the art of carving became the main business of his life.

Many years later, David nevertheless returned to the original idea and wrote the book "Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving", but this was already the work of not a simple admirer of the great master's talent, but his student - even centuries later - and follower.

In 1986, a fire broke out in Hampton Court (the former country residence of the English kings), and it was David Esterley who was invited to restore the damaged Gibbons carving.

There is an expression that "a person who copies the Iliad does not copy Homer." It would be pointless to talk about David Esterly if his works were exclusively copies - even if perfect ones - from the works of Gibbons. David himself understands this, so he always tries to bring something new, modern into his works: “Revive old vessels,” the master says, “but pour new wine into them.” Based on the old tradition of carving, Esterli confidently creates new masterpieces.

Wood has traditionally been a material that has been used for exterior and interior decoration of residential premises. And today openwork woodcarving, photos drawings and sketches which can be found in colorful art publications and on the Internet, amaze the imagination with its beauty and grace.

People who like to make decor with their own hands are able to master the art of artistic cutting. Wood allows you to create genre paintings and decorative compositions that you can decorate your own home and give to friends. Favorite skill in the hands of a connoisseur of the beauty of natural material can become the main profession. Demand for wood carvings today is higher than ever.

Tools for the job

In order to get started, you will need to pick up special tools and study the features of the technology. This business has its own nuances that allow you to more reveal the beauty of wood in the ornament.

You also need to stock up on suitable blanks and sketches that will be repeated on the tree in the form of patterns, lace, compositions or genre scenes.

For his work, the cutter uses a large set of tools:

1. knives;
2. jigsaws;
3. needle files;
4. chisels;
5. electric drill;
6. drill;
7. bars;
8. bits;
9. spoon cutters;
10. milling machine;
11. drill.

Newbie tip :PWhen choosing tools for work, it is necessary to focus on the quality and durability of such products. In the early stages, you can get by with a small number of devices.

For a beginner, a special set of tools is intended. Enough to master the basics artistic processing wooden blanks.

You will also need raw materials from certain breeds. The quality of the product will depend on this. There are hard and soft varieties of trees. Each type has its pros and cons, in each case a specific processing technology is selected.

Soft breeds include:

1. Linden;
2. Birch,
3. aspen
4. pine;
5. juniper.

Soft material is easier to process, but it is easier to spoil it with one wrong movement of a knife or chisel. Another thing is hardwoods. These include:

1. Red tree;
2. boxwood.

Solid raw materials are expensive, but products from it are beautiful, durable and in demand. With expensive breeds experienced craftsmen who know how to process a hard surface so as not to break the tool or get injured work. Therefore, beginners should start with a cheaper and more malleable material.

When choosing raw materials, it is necessary to take into account not only the hardness, but also the color of the wood. For beginner carvers, birch will be an ideal option for creativity. It can be cut in different directions, lends itself well to drilling and cutting. When choosing a product sketch, it must be borne in mind that over time, light birch wood may darken.

Conifers are suitable for products with a large number of slots. The soft material of pine, spruce, cedar allows you to apply large drawings and create an intricate ornament. Beginners can start with conifers, as well as linden, birch and aspen.

A novice carver should learn the basics of craftsmanship from simple ornaments. For the first job, you need a small set of tools. First you can get by with a jigsaw, an awl and a knife.

Before you start cutting, you should organize your workplace with good lighting. Having picked up a suitable workpiece with a flat surface and without knots, it is necessary to transfer the selected pattern to the surface of the workpiece. To do this, you can use tracing paper. When the stencil is translated, it is varnished on top so that it does not disappear or deteriorate during work.

A beginner will need knives, chisels, an awl. For through cuts, it is better to use a jigsaw or a manual milling machine, this will save time and effort.

The carver must master all the techniques that he will then use in his work on the product. With the help of various ways of decorative processing of wood, you can create artistic masterpieces.

Artistic themes and uses

The cutter uses various sketches in his work, from which he takes an image and transfers it to the surface of the workpiece. Today, it is not necessary to use a freehand pencil image for this. Modern technological advances make it possible to use photographs and scanned digital images that can be taken on the Internet.

Ornament sketch

Samples for artistic wood processing are distinguished by decorative and thematic diversity. On the Internet, on sites dedicated to this applied craft, a large selection of topics for cutting is presented. The facade of a wooden house is decorated with wooden patterns. This decor will look great on the doors and on the walls. Artistic cutting is used for the production and decoration of furniture and utensils.

Kitchen utensils and interior wooden products, decorated with intricate openwork, are very popular with buyers. In each case, the master selects the material, creates a sketch of the future product and gets to work.

Drawings are varied in their subject matter. Geometric floral motifs are used. Often the wooden surface is decorated with genre scenes depicting animals, people and trees. Wood is a very plastic material, and in the hands of an experienced carver it turns into a real artistic canvas.

For each type of artistic cutting, a special surface treatment technology is used. Using different techniques, the master creates a three-dimensional canvas on which you can notice the smallest details of the image.

Variety of tricks

For the artistic processing of wood, various technologies are used. In each case, the choice of method determines the product itself, its purpose and the type of wood from which it will be made. During the existence of this applied art form, several cuttings stood out:

1. flat-relief;
2. embossed;
3. excavation, or geometric;
4. slotted;
5. contour;
6. voluminous.

The pattern can be through, flat, embossed, three-dimensional, small and large. The choice of finishing directly depends on the size and functionality of the wooden product. For large items, such as decorative carvings for house facades, a large pattern is used. For interior items and for furniture, craftsmen apply small patterns to the product, which are carefully worked out.

Flat wedge pattern

Such an image is distinguished by a small relief. The image has the shape of a silhouette, and all the details are located in the same plane. For execution, an oval contour, a pillow and a matched background of the pattern can be used.

How subspecies of this technology are distinguished:

1. contour,
2. bracketed
3. geometric (trihedral).

To perform the contour technique, in-depth lines are used that run along the main background.

Staple technology uses special notches in the form of staples to create a finish. When using geometric carving, the master draws a contour using trihedral pyramids and pegs. Repeatedly repeated in different versions, the type of cutting allows you to create a variety of relief decors that are slightly recessed into the general background. This technique is characterized by numerous compositions of geometric shapes in the form of rhombuses, triangles, honeycombs, viteyek, etc.

Openwork or through technique

When creating openwork images, the complete removal of wood from the center of the product is used. This drawing has no background. This type of thread technology is called through. It can be simple and openwork. With an openwork design, the decor is made of different heights.