"Carving A Simple Small Figure From A Block Of Wood '' A Beginners Tutorial

[gene-messer]

Since many new beginners have'nt aquired alot of tools yet ... Especially a bandsaw to cut out patterns ... I thought a simple figure carved out of a block of wood would be a easy challenge for new carvers ..

So I did my best to work this up as quickly as possible to show a simple method in helping beginners follow the cut's to carving a beginning figure with only a knife and small v-tool ..

I hope you like it and forgive me that I had to work quickly because of little time .. But here it is ..

Please bear with me in posting all eight post to show it .. But I tried to make it as simple as possible ..

Thanks for letting me share ...

Here are the steps in doing the figure

Pictures

1. The tools in carving the figure ... Carving knife and small v-tool..

2. The block of Basswood ... 1 inch x 1 inch x 3 1/2 inches tall

3.Drawing for the head .. come down 1 1/2 inches from top of block in front and draw line ... come down 1 inch from back of block and draw line for back of head ... connect lines as shown in photo ...

4.The first cut to separate head ...

5.Separating the head from body ...

[gene-messer]

6.Shaping the head

7.Shaping for the nose

8.Cut for the nose

9.The nose taking shape

10.Shaping the chin

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11. Rounding the head and side

12.Shaping the back of the head

13.Pencil line for sideburn ..

14.Cut for sideburn to separate from head ..

15.Pencil line for separating hair and sideburn from neck

[gene-messer]

16.Cut to separate hair and sideburn from neck ..

17.cut to separate sideburn from ear , Drawn ear ...

18.Cut to form outside of ear ..

19.Cut to form inside of ear ...

20.Pencil drawing for face age lines ...

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21.Cut's to define face age lines ...

22. Cut for mouth ..

23.Shaping lower chin ...

24.Draw a line 1/2 inch from bottom of block and separate the feet from the body...

25.Shaping the body... and adding the eye's .. ( two slanted v cuts on each side of the nose)

[gene-messer]

26.Drawing for the arm and straight cut under forearm ...

27.Cut to separate front of arm from body ...

28.Shaping the arm .. Cut to separate hand from pocket ..

29.Shaping the feet ..

30.Cutting to separate pants leg from shoes ...

[gene-messer]

31. Shaping the back legs and pants crease..

32.Cut to separate the belly from the legs ...

33.Shaping the front legs and groin ...

34.Shaping the back and arms ..

35.Cut's to create wrinkles in pants ( back and front)

[gene-messer]

36.Figure almost finished .. Add hair with v-tool and soles on shoes

37, 38 , 39, . After finish carving .. I sharpened my knife again and smoothed out the rough spots and hanging chips .. then lightly sanded the little guy and here he is finished ..

I had to do this fast and I hope I helped you understand the simpliest way I know to carve a beginning figure with only a few tools ..

Thank you ..


Gene

[Mottles]

Gene, cool little guy, and thank you for taking the time to do a tutorial. It's a wonderful learning exerience for me and I know others too.
THANK YOU,
Kathy

[Banjo]

Great tutorial, Gene. That was so nice of you to take the time to put it all together. It's really neat to be able to see one of your little guys come to life step by step!!