Woodcarving. How to start a newbie?

Hello. Today I would like to share my experience with everyone who is planning to do woodcarving and those who have just started to pursue the case. Perhaps my advice will help, and you will know where best to start.

When I had a great desire to do carving, then shoveled a lot of forums and websites to find out what teaching literature to buy, with no wood better start, what it needs and so chisels Further. You will not have it all to do if your trust in my experience.

In principle, in order to do wood carvings you need not too many things. First of all you have to decide for themselves, and whether you need to do this thing, because it is time-consuming (especially the first time). You must be assiduous and diligent person. If these qualities are inherent in you and you have a great desire to engage in threaded, then go ahead!

So start with a choice of wood. I think that to begin to engage in artistic carvings better with softwood (linden, poplar, willow, etc.), so you'll spend less effort when working and be able to hone the necessary skills.

The best to use the book as a training literature. Of course, you can find a lot of information and drawings on the Internet, but I somehow got used to teach the process was gradual, as detailed as possible painted and was always before his eyes. So I liked the site "Tatyanka" where you can buy everything you need for carving. They have, I bought the first training that you see in the photo (if my memory serves me, that all they have 3 volumes). Believe me with this book, the learning process will be easy. It all stages of painted detail and every step is accompanied by illustrations for each new technique, you will learn (A total of 6) attached templates that can be easily transferred to the product, as in this book are many useful tips and interesting information.

On the same site, I bought a chisel (see photo above). You need only 2 chisels (№6 and №17) and the knife, which you will be enough to learn all the techniques of carving tutorial books. The site has already sold this tool kit. I must say that the tool is not cheap (I paid about 1,500 rubles), but saving is not worth it, because it affects the quality of work.

And the last thing you need to so is wood for training. I did not think long and ordered a lime board and a few blanks for carving: a couple of boxes and a bracelet (all of which also have to "Tatyanka" site). In the photo two works ready and visible clean blank boxes in the background.

That's basically all you need to begin to engage in artistic carvings: book 2 chisel and a knife, a few planks and blanks. Oh, I almost forgot, you still need a felt circle and paste GOI to maintain the instrument in the proper form, but it is a trifle.

Here you have an example, several of my first jobs I did with this set of tools, after a few workouts in simple tablets.

My first job - a bracelet made in techno "flakes." Certainly not without flaws, but it's something.

After I made a bracelet box with butterfly (techno "Muravka"). Already it got better.

And when I have finished harvesting, I bought a pair of linden planks and began to dream. Jigsaw sawed horseshoes, spoons and chopping boards, on which repeated learned art. Here is a photo of a horseshoe with carved leaves.

A detailed review of chisels and a training book, you can see in my video: