Wood carving is not a single activity or pastime, but rather an enormous group of types and things. We don’t have the time or space to cover all types of carving, but let’s take a brief look at a few of the woodcarving types that our members are involved with.

There is carving in the round, which includes everything from little critters and shapes to totem poles and life size statues. Subjects include anything and everything you look at or can imagine. Birds and animals are common, as are people, fish, and many geometric shapes.

Relief carving has many great scenes. Some are religious themes. Many are views of covered bridges, barns, old buildings and rural landscapes. Some are quite flat while others are more than an inch deep and present 3D images. Relief carving is done mostly with gouges, and many patterns are available.

Chip carving is cutting out triangles. Chip carving adorns many wooden religious crosses, and decorates many basswood eggs. Chip carving decorates furniture, and many boxes, plates, and bowls. It looks incredibly difficult, but isn’t. Chip carving does require patience and practice to master. We have several members who win prizes with their chip carving.

Caricature carving is another carving specialty. Caricatures can be any size, but most seem to fit into the bottle-topper category. We have a member who carves and paints incredible caricatures, and he’ll be glad to teach you how to do it. There is a class at every meeting.

Wood burning is used to finish and decorate many carvings, such as animal fur, bird feathers and fish scales. It is also an art unto  itself where creations are portraits and a wide  variety of scenes. We have wood burning equipment you can use to get started, and a highly skilled teacher who is always willing to help.

Want to carve geometric shapes? We can teach you to carve two or three interlocking rings or a chain from a single piece of basswood. We can also teach you to carve 8-pointed or 12-pointed stars as a Christmas ornament. One member is currently working on carving 6 interlocking rings. He says it make take him a year.

Or you can indulge your whimsy to carve gnome or troll houses from cottonwood bark, or gnome huts or gnome churches from basswood. One of our members carves little wooden tops for kids, another carves crosses with doves. The prospects are limitless.