Artistic carving on wood always looks very impressive. Most people have no idea how such products can be made. It seems that this requires enormous physical strength, and in addition, artistic taste and education. However, cutting out a beautiful ornament is not as difficult as it seems, you just need to learn a little technique and, as they say, get better at it. We will show popular drawings for learning wood carving techniques that will be useful for beginners and masters!
It's no secret that for manual creative work it is necessary not only to master the skills of this art, but also to have inspiration, desire and, of course, time. In order for all these parameters to come together, the master can use drawings to study simple wood carving. Not only drawings help to generate an idea, but also photographs of the work of other craftsmen.
There are sketches for various types wood carvings, and here you can find a suitable sketch for yourself completely free of charge.
We analyze drawings for wood carving: sketches for geometry
Drawings for geometric carving are well suited for beginning craftsmen. This is an easy and effective type of wood carving. To do this, you just need to determine for yourself which areas are convex and which are concave, in which case the correct picture on the tree will come out.
Boards in geometric and flat-relief techniques.
Stencil.
Stencils can be changed - for example, reducing the number of elements, or, conversely, adding details for a more interesting result.
Stencils for slotted carving.There are other types of artistic carving. One of the simple cutting techniques, provided you have the right tool, such as a router, is slotting. It is also called openwork because the finished product, made precisely and accurately, looks like lace. It has no background - it is cut out of the pattern. Hence the name. To practice this type of wood carving, you need to have a steady hand and cut clearly along the contour of the stencil. A contrasting color of fabric or foil is placed under a product made using this technique with a router or jigsaw. The photo shows examples of finished work, as well as sketches suitable for this technique.
Contour carving is different in that a contour pattern is cut out on the wood. You can make a lot of different paintings using this technique; it is not necessary to take a ready-made stencil for carving. To decorate a nursery, you can outline the coloring book and use it as a sketch. Also, if you don’t know how to draw, you can take any sketch made in pencil and transfer it to wood. This technique produces good images of animals, birds, as well as landscapes and still lifes. The images clearly show examples of what can be carved on wood using this technique.
Black varnish carving is a type of contour carving, where a light contour is cut out on painted wood.
Examples and stencils for flat-relief wood carving.This type is different in that the drawing is above the background. In this case, the pattern has the same height. The background can be textured or smooth. The edges of the cut out pattern are usually rolled over, that is, it is carefully sanded so that they are smooth, as if oval. This technique requires a little more skill than others, but the products made this way look amazing. The photo shows examples and sketches for carving in this style.
Drawings for boxes can be distinguished as a special type. They can be made using various techniques: slotted carving, placing a base of fabric, foil or noble types of wood of a suitable color under the design; flat carving, which includes geometric and contour, or another subspecies. It differs in that indentations of the same depth are made in a flat background. In the case of geometric techniques, the recesses, as a rule, have the shape of triangles or quadrangles. In addition, there is also a staple carving, which is also a type of flat carving and is well suited for decorating boxes. In the images you can see boxes made in various styles.
The tree has always been considered good material for external and internal decoration of premises. Therefore, today wood carvings, photographs, drawings and sketches are used to create an improved interior. Following this direction, they decorate furniture sets and interiors using the latest technology, techniques and elements that make it possible to obtain products with magnificent appearance and quality, as well as having high artistic value.
Wood is a fairly light material that can be easily processed and has been used since ancient times in decorating palaces, temples, and houses. Craftsmen from all over the world eagerly apply designs for wood carving, using natural materials in their work to create a unique stylistic image in the interior of the house.
Relief carving is a rather labor-intensive type of carving.
For decor from wooden elements using carvings use different woods:
- Linden. A very soft material for carving, from which you can make small products in the form of photo frames, various boxes, and household utensils with patterns. They simply attract attention. This material is perfect for learning wood carving, as it has a soft, pliable wood structure and a beautiful cut color.
- Birch. It is an excellent raw material for obtaining dazzling applied decor or creating excellent souvenirs.
- Nut. Hard material, very good in processing and polishing. A wide range from small products and furniture decor to a variety of sculptural compositions.
- Pear. Unique material, almost does not crack. Used to create exclusive decorations and souvenirs.
- Alder. It is considered an aristocratic tree. Wood has a variety of color scheme from rich red and purple to black. This often replaces valuable tree species.
- Pine, yew, spruce, cedar. These types of tree species are used to form massive carved sculptures, platbands, which are used in the design of cornices and home decoration.
Carving is used to decorate the outside of the house thanks to different ornaments and figures.
Variety of types of wood carvings
In the modern world, more than one type of manual wood processing technology can be used. Of these, you can focus on the following methods:
- Through thread. It is characterized by the complete removal of wood shavings from the boundaries of the design. There is a simple look and an openwork one with different heights and edges. Thanks to this technique, frames, overlays, doors, and decorative elements are made. If you want to carve wood in an oriental style, then a jigsaw will come to the rescue.
- Thread with flat notches. It is characterized by the presence of a flat surface into which thread elements are deepened. There are several subtypes of carving - contour, when, thanks to grooves of a semicircular or triangular section, patterns are obtained on a flat surface; stapled, when the pattern is made from semicircular notches; geometric, when several types of elements are used for the design - pegs and a triangular pyramid recessed in the middle. The patterns are made with a wood carving knife - a jamb. In this case, you get a variety of figures in the form of rhombuses, chains, and honeycombs. Black varnish carving is also performed, when the front side is covered with black paint or varnish, and then grooves are cut out.
- Relief carving. The elements are placed at the same level with the front surface or higher. This is a rather labor-intensive type of carving. Thanks to this type, images of coats of arms, various ornaments, and emblems are created. Subsequently, the image is completed by the play of light and shadow.
- Carving for home decoration. They are used to decorate the outside of the house thanks to the different ornaments and figures that are located on the back of the wooden elements. They decorate cornices, porch posts, and balusters.
A wood carving stencil always comes to the aid of a craftsman. In this difficult task, he is always an indispensable assistant.
Types of stencils
Stencils for wood carving are used to perform rather difficult and painstaking work, which will then decorate the house. Divided into the following types:
- stencils intended for strip ornaments, platbands, pilasters;
- stencils for carved boards - depict ornaments;
- stencils for brackets, rosettes, balusters and the like.
What stencil is preferred for wood carving?
To select suitable stencils you need to follow several rules:
- you need to choose a stencil that you can work with, especially if this is done for the first time, do not think that this is an easy job - you can ruin the material;
- for cut wood carvings, you need to choose only the types of stencils that correspond to it, while trying to transfer the design more accurately and not go beyond its boundaries, otherwise the work will be sloppy.
You need to choose a stencil that you can work with
What parameters should you use to choose a template for wood carving?
Firstly, for large wooden elements it is necessary to choose large stencils, otherwise the elements will be small and will not be visible. But for boxes and frames they choose more complex patterns.
For different carving techniques, the proper patterns and templates for wood carving are selected:
- Slotted carving requires templates and stencils of proper quality and fast work. After the drawing has been transferred, those areas that turn out to be through will need to be shaded.
- Geometric technique is the basis of wood carving. When a sketch is selected, it is applied to a wood panel.
- Sculptural or relief carving is more labor-intensive and requires certain skills from the master. First, the sketch is made on paper, but if it is a three-dimensional craft, then it is necessary to create a figure from a plastic material, for example, clay.
Contour wood carving, being a type of geometric carving, requires some experience. Without habit, it is difficult to cut absolutely straight lines without nicks and chips. A not very complex technique is combined with maximum detail, resulting in beautiful carved products.
Example of contour wood carving
Wood carving is the act of cutting and trimming wood material. As a result, ready-made contour drawings emerge from under the carver’s knife. The outlines of objects, landscape compositions, and flower collages are embodied mainly in wooden panels.
How is the process of working with wood carried out? How do you get beautiful pictures? All work on a piece of wood, which later becomes a work of art, can be divided into stages:
- Initially, select an image.
- The drawing is translated into .
- They make it from a stencil.
- Wood carving is carried out.
- The finished panel is sanded, polished, and varnished.
Wood carving requires special skill, the sketches of which involve the execution of a complex pattern.
A selection of sketches for contour wood carving Each drawn line must be smooth and clear. For drawings in a particular case, the master decides how deep the lines should be cut. The expressiveness of the image on the tree depends on this.
Using the technique of contour wood carving, boxes, crosses and other products are made where it is necessary to reproduce the outlines of flowers, animals, and people. The work is carried out as natural wood, both on tinted and also on plywood.
Operating technique
Wood carving techniques are divided into cutting lines and curls. The lines are first cut, then trimmed. In this case, a special sharp knife is used - a joint. The knife blade should be positioned towards the work at a slight angle from a vertical position. This is how the cutting is done.
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carved wooden stairs
Example of contour carving technique Then the tilt is done in the opposite direction. The cut part of the tree is trimmed. When cutting contour grooves, the jamb is clamped in a fist, and the movement of the blade is directed with the other hand. During the pruning process, it is important that even strips of wood emerge from under the knife. If you end up with sawdust, uneven stripes, there won’t be beautiful lines.
Wood carving for the purpose of cutting out curls and rounded lines involves the use of various chisels. But experienced craftsmen can cut sinuous contour patterns using only one joint.
The technique for cutting curls and small circles is as follows.
Wood carving technique The chisel is held in the fist, making a slight tilt towards the center of the circle. The blade is deepened into the wood a few centimeters, after which the board is turned in a circle along the axis. Then they make the cut. Rotation along the axis with cutting off the cut piece of wood is also carried out. Then the radius is increased if necessary.
Flat and rounded chisels are used for wood carving. Experienced master, knowing the purpose of each, can cut out the most intricate patterns. The pinnacle of craftsmanship is contour carving with a pillow. The resulting pattern in the center looks as if raised above the rest of it. In reality, only the depth of the grooves differs. It can be made larger in the center, smaller at the edges.
Wooden patterns on plywood
Carving on plywood is somewhat different from carving on wood. Working with the material involves performing several techniques. These include:
- performing contour cutting;
- carving;
- openwork carving;
- combined thread.
Using the sawing method, outline images of animals, human figures, and flowers are cut out. As a result, a convex image is formed on a flat background. Contour carving involves cutting out complex designs by cutting and trimming. The result is an exquisite relief pattern.
Openwork carving involves cutting through the details of the design. The pattern made using this technique is the most labor-intensive and beautiful. The product resembles airy lace. Combined contour carving combines 2 or more techniques at once.
One of the most luxurious products, valued for their originality and handicraft, are rightfully considered to be products made in the form of wood carvings. Since ancient times, with the help of this type of art, unsurpassedly decorated towers and huts have been created.
Some of them are currently considered architectural monuments. This art is beginning to revive in the modern world. Excellent helpers in this case are stencils for wood carving.
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What is a stencil for?
First, let's try to figure out what stencils for woodworking are. These are special ones that are used to apply pattern elements to the surface of wood.
They are much make it easier to repeat identical characters and allow you to speed up your work. For example, the most popular stencils for are samples for platbands.
With their help, quite a lot of work is done complex work for interior and facade design.
Stencils are divided according to their purpose for creating interior elements:
- ribbon carved ornament;
- carved platbands;
- pilasters;
- towels;
- carved balusters and more.
All varieties are considered professional templates. You can use them create several ornaments for wood carving of a voluminous nature and significantly facilitate the task assigned to the master. There is no need to create them yourself. On the Internet you can find and download the option you like.
Prices for wood carving kits
wood carving kits
How to choose a stencil
Wood carving patterns are so diverse that they can be used by both beginners and advanced professionals. With their help, both simple ornaments and high-level works of art are created.
The main thing is to make the right choice. To do this, you must adhere to certain rules:
- if you started using incisors quite recently, then Don’t choose intricate patterns, since it is quite difficult to work with them, and the workpiece can be damaged;
- for each type of wood carving they choose their own stencil;
- Before starting work, you must apply a stencil design to the workpiece; the lines must be neat and clear.
Finding stencils today is easy. This can be done using electronic libraries.
Every decorator will appreciate the convenience and wide selection of this source. Here you can choose drawings from a bygone era as well as modern masterpieces.
When making a choice, be sure to compare the dimensions of the workpiece and the image itself.
You also need to choose a sample that will look appropriate on an element of the interior. We pay attention to the nuances:
- for a large product, you do not need to choose a stencil with small elements or openwork patterns;
- for small items, stencils with large designs are inappropriate;
- proportions must always be observed.
All these tips apply to any drawings.
Types of wood carving
Wood carving does not have a narrow direction; on the contrary, it has several varieties:
- slotted;
- flat-relief;
- embossed.
Slotted carving on plywood
The key to success when performing slotted carvings is right choice ornament. Thanks to it, plywood carving sets the overall concept and adds aesthetics to the product.
Drawings and ornaments on floral or animal themes are standard representatives of the classical style and are suitable for any interior design.
Very often used slotted inscriptions. In this case, ready-made stencils are difficult to find, since they are created individually for each case. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to maintain the size, style of the font, and the set of words is always different.
Important! The situation is completely different with patterns of plant, animal and fantasy styles. Many options for this topic can be found on the Internet. Some options are shown in the photo below.
House wood carving
Brownie is the main focus of the design of huts, which is very common in the Nizhny Novgorod region. It is she who can boast of various lace patterns. To perform it yourself, you should select the appropriate sketches.
The main condition for house carving is to avoid small parts. They will get lost on the facade of the house, and will not last long.
Options for house carvings can be selected on websites dedicated to wood carvings. But there are craftsmen who can make a template to order. In this case, you can realize exactly your idea and get an original pattern.
Attention! Patterns for house carvings are applied using tape stencils.
Through wood carving
A distinctive feature of through thread is complete wood removal from the inside of the picture.
Through threads come in different styles:
- simple, in which elements are cut out along the contour of the design;
- openwork, when the pattern is created with a volumetric effect due to multi-level cutting.
Through carvings are used to make frames, various overlays, door panels, and decoration elements.
Through thread in oriental style performed using a jigsaw.
Sawing with a jigsaw
Sawing with a jigsaw is mainly carried out on plywood. To perform quality work you must have at least the slightest experience with the tool. Also an important factor is the presence of an original stencil depicting animals.
Commonly used stencils:
- a pair of swans;
- head of a deer, wolf;
- cockerels on a knitting needle;
- a horse standing on its hind legs;
- butterflies.
It all depends on the style of the interior that needs to be complemented decorative elements. You can easily find examples of templates on the Internet.
The most suitable material for sawing is birch plywood 3–10 mm thick. In addition, for work you need to prepare:
- copy paper for interleaving the pattern;
- special paper for sanding parts;
- wood glue for joining parts;
- clear varnish to give a decent appearance.
Before starting work, the workpiece is carefully polished with glass paper, only then do they begin to transfer the design.
Floral ornament
Often, floral or foliage patterns are made in the form of stripes or borders consisting of repeating patterns. Can be made in an individual composition that contains an image trees, fruiting plants, various floral elements And so on.
The work is done in various ways:
- display in a naturalistic form;
- simplified plant elements.
Floral patterns for carving wood are in second place in popularity after geometric patterns. Favorite thematic elements at all times are lilies, grape leaves and berries, oak, hops, ivy, etc.
Sketches for patterns
Stencils for wood carving are quite diverse in their subject matter. Some of their variants are used in a narrow direction, and some can be found on any interior elements.
Here are several sketch options that can be used for a specific purpose:
- Wooden patterning is used to decorate the facade of houses. It looks perfect on both doors and walls.
- cutting artistic style used to decorate dishes and furniture.
- Products made using intricate openwork cutting are especially held in high esteem. Most often it is used for household items.
Important! A correctly selected sketch will help you complete wood carving quickly and accurately.
Useful video: templates for wood carving
Each type of cutting has its own processing technology; detailed elements. In some cases, several techniques are used simultaneously, which are subsequently transformed into a three-dimensional canvas with the presence of smallest fragments. This characterizes a true master.
Every owner dreams of making his home memorable and beautiful. If the house is no longer new, it is not so simple. One of the possibilities is carved platbands. They will even turn an ordinary “box” into a masterpiece.
Material for platbands
Carved platbands are made mainly from wood conifers. The best option— pine, easy to cut, inexpensive, durable due to its high resin content. In principle, you can use any other coniferous board, but it is better not to try with spruce: it is too fibrous and cannot be cut even with the sharpest tool.
You can also make carved frames from hardwood - linden (the softest), poplar, maple, oak, cherry, etc. But you need to be able to work with each species, get your hands on it, and there is no guarantee that you will get something digestible, and hardwood is expensive. That’s why window frames are often made from pine. You just need to pay attention to the quality characteristics.
Carved window frames - a way to make your home unique
If you have wood or a board that has been lying around for 3 years or more, you can use it: it is already definitely dry, it just needs processing and calibration. If there is no woodworking equipment at home (thicknesser and circular saw), you will need an edged board. Wood of the first or highest grade is suitable for carved platbands. This means that there should be no knots, chips, or resin pockets on the board. Take chamber-dried wood with a moisture content of no more than 8-12%. This is not sold in the markets; you need to look for it at sawmills and construction stores.
Why kiln drying? Because it is dried in a special chamber, quickly removing moisture. At the same time, some of the boards crack and bend - these are rejected, the rest are sold. If you make carved frames from chamber-dried wood, they will definitely not be damaged or cracked.
Tools
To make carved platbands with your own hands, you will need the following minimum set:
- drill with a set of drills;
- electric jigsaw with soft start and a bunch of different wood saws;
- chisels;
- sandpaper with grains of different sizes;
- petal disk from sandpaper on wood with a drill.
To reduce the time it takes to create carved patterns and sanding, it is better to have a router and a grinder.
One at a time or in bulk?
Carved platbands usually consist of repeating elements. At least two vertical slats on each window are made identical. And since several windows are usually decorated, a lot of identical elements are required. If you are going to make slotted trims, you naturally want to cut out several pieces at the same time, stacking the boards and somehow securing them.
The desire is understandable, but difficult to implement, and the benefits over time are not as great as it seems. The first difficulty is that home craftsmen usually don’t have very many jigsaws. high power. To cut through several boards, you have to move the saw more slowly along the intended pattern. On straight lines the speed is still tolerable, on curves it is low. And the smaller the bend radius, the slower you have to move the file. If you work with one board, there are no such problems. So, in terms of time, if there is any gain, it is very small.
One more thing. Even thick, good, expensive files with a large thickness of the workpiece are deflected. So, when cutting several boards at the same time, the quality of the slot on the bottom (or two) remains a big question.
The procedure for manufacturing a platband with slotted threads
Using a template, transfer the desired drawing onto the board (read below for where to get it, how to enlarge it, and how to make a template). If necessary, we correct it and draw out the details well. Next, we will describe the procedure step by step.
Removing wood from the slots in the pattern
Since the carving will be viewed from afar, some inaccuracies are not fatal, but it is still worth striving for the ideal.
Making a curly edge
Some platbands have a smooth edge. Then we skip this stage. If the edge is figured, you will have to do some more work with a jigsaw.
If the cut is complex, there may be unattractive places left. This is not scary, we will then process them where necessary - with chisels, the same jigsaw, emery. When you are satisfied with the result, you can move on.
Final revision
Owners wooden houses, probably know everything about how to process wood. But, just in case, let’s repeat the general rules again.
The choice of paints and varnishes is very wide. Suitable for any outdoor use. But keep in mind that opaque paints will have to be renewed periodically - once a year for sure. And this means removing the old paint, priming, painting again. The situation is simpler with wood oils - they do not form a film on the surface of the wood, but are absorbed into the fibers. The coating also needs to be renewed, but just clean it from dust and cover it with a new layer. And the processing frequency is less. Disadvantages of wood oil - higher price, fewer colors.
How to enlarge a template
Simple carved platbands can be made without templates. There will be several examples in the video - it shows how to draw and cut. But not everyone can draw more or less complex patterns on their own. It takes skill and talent. The easiest way is to find a diagram, print it in the desired size, transfer it to cardboard and cut it out. You will get a template that you can trace.
The second way: copy from a photograph. Not all diagrams can be found. Some, especially antique window frames, you will not find anywhere. If you have at least some drawing ability, you can copy them.
Even such an ornament can be copied... if you have the skill
Questions may arise about how to increase the size of the found diagram or template. There are three options:
- Using any graphic editor. The simplest one - Paint - is available on any computer running Windows (the “Image” tab, the line “Change image size”, select “centimeters” and enter the desired length (height) in the box. The resulting file can be printed. If the printer is small format, It may be necessary to split it into several pages.Them should then be glued together and, based on the resulting drawing, a template should be made.
- Using a photocopy. Copiers have a zoom function.
- Taking graph paper, transfer the drawing to the desired scale. To do this, divide the original image into squares with a side of 0.5 or 1 cm (can be printed on a piece of checkered paper). Then we transfer the lines to graph paper, increasing them in the required proportion.
The first two methods are faster. But when scaling, the picture may turn out fuzzy and blurry. You can correct it by hand, or you can draw it in some editor, for example, CorelDRAW. Watch the video to see how to do this. Just an example of drawing a diagram for carving.
Video on the topic
Schemes, templates, patterns
The style is completely different...