Learn how to carve a green man using woodcarving gouges and knives. The step-by-step process is easy to…
What is a Green Man?
Images of men emerging from vegetation have been a common
artistic motif for more than two thousand years. Some scholars believe that the
image of the “green man” is somehow linked to the ancient Dionysian fertility rituals and the natural process of rebirth, which occurs in Spring. But what do these academics know?
Among woodcarvers and artists today, the pagan image of
the green man has survived the ages of enlightenment and industrialization. I can’t
explain what possessed me to carve a green man. Perhaps I was possessed by an
uncontrollable Jungian impulse inside all of us. After all, who hasn’t carved a
pumpkin, arguably a form of green man?
The Carving Process
As with any carving, I first like to sketch a full-scale
drawing of the design on paper. That way, I can easily transfer the design
directly on the wood. After I carve away the transferred drawing on the wood, I
can refer to the sketch and redraw the design as needed.
In the carving shown in this article, I began with a
basic layout from a Chris Pye book. Pye is one of the most talented and best known
woodcarvers in the world. My finished
carving is very similar to his carving, with a few modifications. To my way of
thinking, there is nothing wrong with copying another design, if you make a few
changes which can make the piece uniquely yours.
For this project I used basswood. Basswood, tupelo and
pine are soft woods, which are very easy to carve, especially if you are a
beginner. I special ordered a 2” x 18”
circular blank from Heinecke Wood Products in northern Wisconsin
(www.heineckewood.com). Heinecke always delivers good quality products at
reasonable prices. Even though all of
the blanks that I order are all special sizes, I usually receive delivery in
about a week.
Before transferring the design to the wood, I shaped the
piece from 2” thick in the center to 1” thick along the outside edge. See photo
A.
 |
| Photo A. |
Using Saral paper, which is similar to carbon paper, I
traced the drawing onto the wood. Shown in photo B.
 |
| Photo B. |
Photo C
shows the design transferred to the wood.
Using a V-parting tool I carve into the wood where the pencil marks are.
 |
| Photo C. |
Using #5 and #7 gouges, I begin roughing out the major
features of the design, as shown in photos D and E.
 |
| Photo D. |
 |
| Photo E. |
As I was carving, I periodically checked the depth of the
recesses, so I didn’t cut clear through to the other side. After roughing out
the design, I carved the details as shown in photos F and G.
 |
| Photo F. |
 |
| Photo G. |
In the past I have rarely used knives. But, after purchasing
several carving knives, I had to try out my new toys. I found that the knives were useful in
undercutting and in smoothing the surface of the wood.
Finishing the carving involved multiple steps. I first treated the wood with Tung oil to the wood. While this process is time-consuming, it brought out the grain of the wood as well as imparted a warm, yellowish hue. The next step was to polyurethane the carving. Finally, I applied a colored wax, which accentuated the contrast between highlight and shadow.
Real Milk Paint Pure Tung Oil
To accentuate the grain of a wood and bring out the natural beauty of wood, treat your wood carvings with pure Tung oil.
● 100% Pure Tung Oil without any additives and no thinners.
● Penetrates deeply into the wood fibers providing water
resistance.
● Enhances the natural beauty of wood.
● Excellent finish for woodcarvings, wood bowls and wood
flooring.
● Produces an elastic oil finish, which expands and contracts
with changes in the substrate.
RELATED ARTICLES
Hingst Art Photo Album
Using a Mini Angle Grinder for Woodcarving
Woodcarving Tool Care
Thinning Paste Wax for Easier Application
Applying a Wiping Varnish to Your Carving
Using Epoxy Clay to Correct Woodcarving Mistakes
Safety Rules for Angle Grinders
Lowering the Cutting Angle of Woodcarving Gouges
Undercutting to Create Drama in Relief Carving
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.
© 2015 Jim Hingst
That is a beautiful carving. Thanks for sharing Jim.
ReplyDelete