Thread: New to woodcarving (please read)

Wood carving or more the carpentry side of things?

As far as i know there are no apprenticeships and its not so much a trade as a hobby/artform, although you might get lucky and find someone who could show you a few things.

Dont let me discourage you. Wood carving is a fantastic thing.

I wrote a few tips in this thread.:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f10/hobby-38563

Feel free to ask any questions.

Ben

Hi Daniel, there are MANY ways to get to where you wish to be. PRIMARY...LEARN THE MEDIUM!! You need to learn about the material you will be working with. What it will do, what it won't do, stuff that makes it happy. You need to learn enough about tools and SHARPENING to get a start and you need a place to work. You can work small pieces in your lap (don't slip!!) you will need some type of stand/table to support larger pieces.
W/o knowing what experience you may have, there are a couple of places in the US that will accept apprentice carvers. There are production shops where carvers come and go, ply their trade, receive some type of compensation and learn from the collective experience, there was one that I took notice of, I think in New York, they were rebuilding carousel horses and constructing new ones using the traditional methods (gluing, shaping, finishing)
Unfortunately, it is the age old problem, "how do I get experience when I cannot get a break, how can I make a break with no experience"....start small, be methodical, record the results of your carvings ....even the failed ones. My wood stove was my best critic for years.
I carve because I like the feeling that the expression allows me. I carve so I can share with others, and pricing??? that could be the stuff of doctorate degrees.
holler at me?? [email protected]
jerry