EASY ideas

[dallasjr]

Just started on this journey of wood carving. I think maybe having some ideas would be a good starting point. I was wondering what you guys thought. From all your experience what did you guys think was an easy project.

[Creekside_Carver]

In the current issue of WCI there is a silly sheep project. This project would be good for a beginner, no intricate details. Everyone that has seen the sheep I carved thought it was "cute".!! The article calls for small round wooden balls for the eyes, I was not able to find them at the local craft store so I took a 1/4" dowel, carved a ball on the end, cut it off and glued it on for the eyes.

[Claude]

Read through the past messages posted in this (Woodcarving for Beginners) forum, and also look through the ones at Wood Carving Tutorials - Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board.

Claude

[dallasjr]

Thanks y'all

[Dave Richardson]

I think projects that utilize a knife and a carving glove is a good place to start. Check out the video section here with gene messer...you will find plenty to do...let us see how they turn out.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Also on youtube is YouTube - carverswoodshop's Channel, very good videos.

Dave

[jmischel]

I learned a lot from Gene Messer's YouTube videos. As a total beginner a year ago, I really enjoyed the 5-minute bear. Do a few of those, and then look around at some of his other videos. Gene also did a couple of picture tutorials here on the forum, which I found very helpful.

Simple small figure from a block of wood
Hillbilly from a block of wood


Little Shavers has a free patterns page. When I first started carving, I found the pinecone ornament fun. Doing it also showed me that I needed to learn how to sharpen a knife. The Santa Christmas ornament linked from there was a bit harder, but I completed it.

Definitely check the Tutorials section of the forum. Also, my Carving Resources page (such that it is--I keep meaning to update it) has links to a few of the YouTube video carvers' pages.

Oh ... and don't forget Dave Brock's Simple Simon the Penguin videos. Simple and fun little carving.

How To Carve "Simple Simon" The Penguin- Part 1 (of 3) | Wood Trails - Dave Brock
How To Carve "Simple Simon" The Penguin- Part 2 (of 3) | Wood Trails - Dave Brock
How To Carve "Simple Simon" The Penguin- Part 3 (of 3) | Wood Trails - Dave Brock

Those ought to keep you occupied for a while . . .

[hwallen48]

The one i would reccomend 1st would be a cowboy boot. By doing it you do alittle bit of everything, Gene Messer has one on You Tube and Lynn D. has one on his web site also!!

[pilgreen23]

i just started as well, my first sculpture was a whale, i enjoyed it, just make sure you start out on an actual piece of wood, i used a leftover 4x4 and had much frustration, when i carved a small block of bass wood for the first time i was totally amazed at how much more i could do with it. Have fun!!!