SAEDNEWS: Sculpture is an art form created on wood. The sculptor crafts beautiful representations of the human figure using wood as the medium. Join Saed News to discover more about this fascinating art.
Wood carving is a fun, accessible, and creative form of art that doesn’t require a fancy studio or special equipment. All you need is a piece of wood and something sharp to carve with. Of course, the type of wood you choose and the carving tools you use will affect the difficulty, safety, and final outcome of your wood sculpture.
The art of sculpting and carving wood from forest trees has an ancient history. Since the time when humans worshiped idols and deities, creating statues in various forms has been common. In ancient Iran, numerous sculptures can be seen in Persepolis, in temples from the Achaemenid era, and even earlier periods.
Sculpture is a branch of the visual arts concerned with shaping objects from various materials. In essence, sculpture is the process of creating a three-dimensional form — known as a statue, figure, or sculpture. In the past, sculpting meant carving or shaping materials like stone, metal, wood, or clay. Today, however, it is practiced through many different techniques and with a wide range of materials.
Artworks from ancient times show that stone sculptures have survived best through the ages, while wooden ones have mostly decayed. The ancient Greeks sculpted figures of their gods to place in temples; Egyptians made statues for their dead; and many other civilizations created sculptures according to their own customs and beliefs.
Although Iranians have long excelled in various arts, sculpture—both before and after Islam—was not widespread in Iran. Few examples have been discovered, mostly dating back to the Parthian and Sassanid periods.
Wood can be used in sculpture in several ways, including:
Wood Carving (Relief Carving)
Woodturning
Marquetry
Wood Figure Sculpting
Because of its great variety, wood is considered a valuable material, allowing for many creative approaches. Among the techniques used are:
Choosing between hardwood and softwood
Adding new pieces of wood during the process
Removing material during carving
Relief carving for decorative details
Wood is one of the most common and easily accessible materials for sculpture. Although various types of wood can be used, it’s best to consider the intended use and placement of the sculpture beforehand. Woods like cherry, walnut, and pine are ideal choices since they are easy to carve and finish beautifully. Typically, the artist begins with a preliminary sketch, transfers the design onto the wood with a marker, and then carves away the excess until the final piece emerges.
1. Whittling
Whittling is one of the oldest styles of wood carving. It involves making fine, precise cuts with a knife and requires great attention to detail. Sculptures in this style are usually angular in form.
2. Relief Carving
Unlike full three-dimensional sculpture, relief carving involves creating raised designs on a flat wooden surface. The background is carved away, leaving the image standing out in shallow relief. This method is somewhat similar to clay sculpting, featuring smooth surfaces and rounded shapes.
3. Chip Carving
This technique uses knives, chisels, and mallets to carve intricate patterns into wooden panels or boards. The process involves cutting and removing pieces of wood to form decorative geometric or natural motifs.
Knives:
High-quality knives made from tempered steel are ideal because they provide cleaner cuts and last longer. There are many types of carving knives for different purposes, but beginners can start with just one or two basic ones.
Wood:
Different woods have distinct textures and hardness levels. Beginners should start with soft, inexpensive woods. Over time, they can experiment with other types as their skills develop.
Basswood: Soft and easy to carve, with fine grains and a light cream color. It’s one of the best choices for whittling.
Butternut: Easy to carve with a coarser grain and light brown color. It offers a beautiful natural finish if left unpainted.
White Pine: Soft, creamy-colored wood with medium grain, suitable for simple carvings.
Wood sculpture is a relaxing and highly creative art form. The feeling of shaping a wooden figure with your own hands brings a special kind of satisfaction — transforming a simple piece of wood into a unique, expressive work of art.
