Wood carving is a type of decorative and applied art, which was widespread and especially popular in the territories of modern Russia. In almost every region of the country, their own traditions of carving ornaments, patterns, figures of people and animals on wooden surfaces have formed. Wood generally refers to the favorite materials of Russian people. Perhaps the "roots" of this love go deep into history and are lost somewhere in the days of pagan beliefs, when any natural objects were given a sacred meaning, and trees were generally considered to be a "genus", that is, the progenitor of existence, the personification of mother nature. Be that as it may, the wood is really very “warm”, cozy, homely material, which is also environmentally friendly. At the moment, there are many ways to process wood, but traditional carving is a step above any “industrial” techniques. Carving ornaments, paintings, figures, craftsmen put their soul into their work.We won’t be able to teach how to give a part of ourselves to the created product, but we will introduce the basics of working with wood, which will be useful to any novice carver.
Wood can rightfully be considered one of the oldest materials used by man. At the dawn of time, people realized how affordable and easy to process wood can be. They began to attract it everywhere for construction. The art of carving is closely intertwined with a separate type of architecture - wooden architecture. People never suppressed their inner desires to surround themselves with beautiful things. This desire for beauty often became the impetus for the development of art in different directions. Threading was no exception. As usual, at first all the best was laid on the altars for the deities, who were worshiped in those days. The Shigirsky idol is considered the oldest example of woodcarving art. He was found during excavations near Yekaterinburg. The product is a figuratively cropped post with thematic drawings on the surface. According to scientists, this idol was created in the middle of the VIII century. A pillar was made of larch (contrary to the common misconception about oak). In addition to the Shigirsky idol, there are later finds decorated with carved elements, but the technique of those masters was primitive and rude. Modern man would rather call them original than beautiful.It affected the influence of poor tools used by masters of those times.
And now we’ll take a big leap into almost ten centuries and go back to the 16th century, when the first artisans of carvers began to appear. From the field of rites and paganism, woodcarving gradually passed on to everyday life. Scanty furnishings and wooden utensils began to decorate with bizarre patterns. The technique has become more elegant, thanks to an expanded set of special tools that the masters began to use. In addition to ordinary wood, even tree roots and burls (a type of growth) were used. With their bizarre, irregular shapes, they inspired abstract associations and pushed carvers to create original asymmetric household items. Artels massively decorated temples, cathedrals, palaces and homes of wealthy citizens. Most household utensils (from chests to spoons) were covered with decorative patterns. Since even the middle class tried to decorate houses, a separate direction appeared called house carving. Many samples have survived to this day. Most of them have become official monuments of art. In parallel with house carving, a more complex technique appeared - volumetric. Embossed decorations required great skill from the carvers, but the result was worth it. Chests, chairs, toys, coasters, gingerbread boards (similar to trays), spoons, snuff-boxes, caskets, headboards, trims and window shutters were decorated with carvings. Although a couple of decades ago this art form was in decline, gradually the traditions of ancient Russian woodcarving are reviving. It is not in vain that they say that everything new was just well forgotten.
Types of thread
Wood carving is classified into the following subtypes and directions:
Volumetric (sculptural). The image (omen) is completely or partially separated from the background. The technique is similar to bas-reliefs.
Flat top.The image stands out against the background, due to the deepening of the latter.
Slotted (openwork). Refers to the through technique. The background in the products is completely removed. Previously, they were often used to design icons and paintings as frames.
Contouring. It is considered one of the simplest techniques. Often used by beginners for practical training. Contour thread is a pattern that is formed by the intersection of shallow lines. If we compare with the art of sculpture, then the closest analogue of this technique is ankre or coilanaglyph.
Geometric Like contouring, it refers to simple techniques that even beginners can do. The pattern is formed from various geometric shapes and their interweaving. Despite the apparent simplicity, the work due to the play of light is transformed and looks very beautiful.
Embossed. The product has virtually no flat plane. Each element of the figure with different heights stands above the surface. There are two subtypes of thread: high relief and low relief. In the first case, the image protrudes almost half the volume, and in the second only a couple of centimeters.
East. It is characterized by an abundance of elegant ornaments obtained by crossing straight and curved lines. In addition, flowers often appear in drawings. The above techniques are classified as basic, but the list is not limited to them. Much less often, they use threading techniques with a matched and cushioned background, savory cutting.
Where can be applied
Wood carving is widely used in interior and landscape design. Although such products are most consistent with the ethnic Russian style, the beautiful work of the master can organically integrate into the Scandinavian, eco direction, eclecticism, Provence (generally any kind of country), modern, classic and even fusion. The interior uses either carved household items (chests, caskets, inkwells, coasters, furniture elements) or decorative details that play an exclusively decoration role (cornices, murals on certain areas of walls, edging arches, doors).To design the exterior of the house and the adjacent territories, gazebos, benches, platbands, pediments, gates and gates, fences made using the woodcarving technique are purchased.
The choice of material for work
When choosing wood, you should pay attention to three criteria:
Weight. The heavier the block or board, the stronger the finished product. This rule applies to all types of wood.
Humidity. Do not use raw wood for work. Sooner or later, it will dry out, and this is fraught with deformation of the material, which can affect the thread.
General state. The more growths, knots and deformed fibers in a bar, the more difficult it is to work with such material. Such defects do not allow the master to move the tools in the right direction, as they will constantly “stumble” over obstacles.
If the wood carver is stored independently in the neighboring forest, then the material must be dried. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in the summer, since the tree should lie outdoors in 1-2 weeks. If the workpiece has impressive dimensions, then this period is increased to 1-2 months. Do not leave material on the street during the "rainy season". There will be no sense from such a procedure, since at a high level of environmental humidity, water from micropores will not disappear. After street drying, the wood is brought into the house, but is not placed next to heating appliances. Residual moisture will be removed within a week. For small workpieces, digestion technology is suitable. They are put in a container of water, which is heated and boiled for 2-3 hours. This express method allows you to quickly "squeeze" the remaining moisture from the micropores of the wood. After the procedure, the blanks are given a “rest” in the house for about a week.
Basic Craft Tools
In order for the work to argue, few skills and abilities are not enough, you also need to use high-quality tools.It is possible that Nicolo Paganini compensated his violin for his skills by playing on one string, but this legend refers to exceptions to the general rule. The standard list of woodcarver tools includes:
Board for carving. It is superimposed on the work surface in order to protect it from damage. It is used only in cases where the master does not yet have a permanent place to work.
A set of chisels. These carpentry tools differ in the shape of pointed steel tips, but we will talk more about them later.
Knives. Along with chisels, they are actively used for cutting patterns. There are several subspecies of knives, differing in appearance and functionality. Knives-cutters and knives-jambs differ only in the cutting angle of the beveled blade. Without the latter, the technique of flat-carving is not complete. Bogorodsky knives got their name in honor of the region where local craftsmen actively used them to work on traditional toys. Usually sold as a set. There is one subtype of this variety of instruments - “Tatyanka”. A characteristic element of these knives are elongated handles. They allow you to transfer the maximum force to the tool with which the master presses. Used in the so-called "power thread".
Shtikhel. Outwardly very similar to a chisel, but has a characteristic mushroom-shaped handle. It allows the master to cut out the finest lines.
Spoilers. The tool is usually used to work with spoons, as the name implies. However, it can be used in other techniques, if it is necessary to make a neat hole in the tree in the handicap of a circle or semicircle. It is a steel plate on the handle. At the end, it is either half rounded or looped into a ring.
Pattern. It is used as a stencil for transferring an image drawing to a workpiece.
Nichrome wire.It is used only for burning out individual image elements during fine work with details. Requires safety precautions. If the wire is heated, it easily burns through the upper thin layer of wood fibers.
And now in more detail we consider the varieties of chisels, which can rightfully be considered the main tool of the carver.
Types of Chisels
Depending on the characteristics of the blade and the field of application, the chisels are classified into the following types:
Direct. They have flat blades. The tool is used to align certain areas of the workpiece or to clean it at the preparatory stage of work.
"Kosyachki." The angle of cut of their blades varies from 35 to 70 degrees. Widely used in geometric carving.
Klukarza. They are considered a kind of semicircular chisels. Used to process the background and cut large convex shapes. They have a curved blade remotely resembling a “cup” of rose petal.
Corners (geysmusy). The gutter-shaped blade leaves the characteristic “grooves” on the workpiece.
Semicircular. As a rule, these chisels are used for bulk carving, but can also be used in flat-relief technology. Tools differ in bending radius and blade length. Concave circles and lines are made on the workpiece with their help, the depth of which is regulated by changing the pressure force on the chisel.
Each master in the set has his own favorite tools, which he uses most often. Usually, such a touching attachment develops over the years of labor, when the carver has already developed his individual style of work. For beginners, it remains only to stuff themselves "bumps" by trial and error until the ideal tool is found.
Work Precautions
When cutting wood, there is always a risk of damage to the hands of the craftsman, and fingers for carvers are the main tool of work.All devices are sharp enough and just one awkward movement is enough to cut the skin, or even completely cut off something important. Therefore, you should not neglect the safety rules, which are not so difficult to follow:
The working surface must be stable. Professional carvers have special workbenches for these purposes. Beginners often work at regular tables, which can swing.
You need to cut only on your own. Matches are set on fire by the same rule.
Indoor lighting should be directed to the working surface. Shadows should not fall on the table. Otherwise, you will have to work very close to the part, which is fraught with damage not only to the fingers in case of excess.
Workpieces that are processed must be secured with special fasteners.
When sharpening tools, be sure to use safety glasses. After the process, the sharpness of the blade on the fingers cannot be checked. For this, any unnecessary bar is suitable.
Accuracy is the key to success. Each tool should lie in its place (preferably in special organizers). Thus, the master will eliminate the risk of the chisel or knife falling to the floor with subsequent damage to the legs. It is also necessary to remove chips from the work surface in a timely manner. Otherwise, an irresistible desire to do this during cutting processes may arise. One awkward movement while working with power tools can result in disaster.
When working with a power tool, pay attention to the wires. You can not let them curl, because in such "balls" it is easy to get confused.
Also, it is not recommended to have heating devices near the workplace, light candles, or smoke. The chips are flammable, so any contact with fire should be limited.
Geometric carving master class
As mentioned above, geometric carving is considered one of the simplest, therefore, ideal for training novice masters. A minimal set of tools is required to work. During the cutting process, only accuracy matters. Elements of the picture must have clear symmetry. The images themselves consist of repeating zones that form a single elegant composition.
Technology and sequence of geometric thread
The drawing in the technique of geometric carving is based on various simple shapes: circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids and rhombs, which complement with straight and broken lines. Contrary to the errors of the layman, the finished compositions are devoid of angularity and rudeness. The play of light and shadow emphasizes the relief of the image. Plots, as such, have no geometric thread. She conveys the mood and clearly demonstrates the skill of the author. The finished product can amaze with the complexity and subtlety of work, and sometimes adheres to the principles of laconicism, which does not affect its perception. Very often, the composition of the composition is based on traditional Russian ornaments, which were previously considered "amulets" from evil forces. The process of working in the technique of geometric carving is conventionally divided into stages:
Preparatory. It includes the manufacture of blanks (blanks) and rough leveling of its surface, that is, the removal of defects, chips, and relief elements.
Work on a composition using knives.
The final stage. Final processing of the workpiece: grinding, impregnation with special compounds, coating with varnish or paint.
After drying, carved crafts can be used for their intended purpose.
Necessary tools
To work in the technique of geometric carving, you will need a minimum set of tools:
Pencil, compass and ruler (pattern) for accurate drawing.
Two types of knives: a “pigtail” and a “feather” (a kind of knives of the Mother of God).
The first type of knife is used to cut straight lines that form angular geometric shapes, and the second - for "grooves" with soft bends.
Create a sketch of a pattern
Craftsmen who have a “full hand” apply the patterns directly to the workpiece using a pencil and compass, a ruler. For beginners, it is better to first draw a sketch on paper or use ready-made drawings that can be easily found on the World Wide Web. The patterns are printed, and then applied to the blank and circled along the contour using a carbon paper. When the drawing is completely transferred to the workpiece, you can begin to cut the composition.
Cut out patterns
You need to start with soft details (circles, petals, smooth lines). For work, use a pen-knife. It is clamped in the hand between the palm and the index finger. The thumb is set aside and leaned against the workpiece. He will serve as a support. A bent index finger will become a regulator of the pressure on the tool and its angle. The depth of the “groove” will depend on this. Remember that you need to cut "from yourself." First, one part of the composition is processed (left or right depends on the leading hand), and then the blank is turned over and the second part of the pattern is continued to be cut.
Now a knife-jamb comes into play for working on triangular elements. This tool is held differently. It is clamped between the index and thumb, like a pencil, but at the very end of the pen, closer to the blade. The “heel” of the knife is forcefully driven into the workpiece at an angle of 45 degrees, but not at the very edge of the figure, but with a slight indentation. It must be done so that the notch has “gentle” edges. "Grooves" with such a relief look prettier. The edges of the triangles should converge. Using the same algorithm, the remaining elements of the picture are cut out. Spent pieces of wood should be in the form of pyramids, then the work is done correctly.
During the cutting process, it is easy to check the sharpness of the knife.If the chip is pulled by a continuous “tape”, then the tool is sharpened well. If it crumbles and falls off in pieces, then the knife is not suitable for cutting. Even sharp tools must be sharpened periodically during operation. For these purposes, a piece of genuine leather is used, on which a small amount of any polishing paste based on chromium oxide is applied.
Grinding and impregnation of the finished product
To smooth the roughness of the edges of the "grooves", the surface of the craft should be lightly sanded with sandpaper. Then the product is impregnated with a special composition. Some coat varnish, but most masters prefer the waxing process (wax mastic) or coating the surface with oil. In this case, the craft will acquire a light, natural shine. Usually use linseed, dandelion, peppermint, seven-herb oil. The same compounds are great for soaking dishes. The craft is densely greased with a tool, after which the oil is “rubbed” into the wood. Now the product should dry. It is best to put it on the street to dry under the sun. Some people put products near the battery or use a hairdryer to speed up the process.
Master class of cookie cutters
To make a cookie cutter, you must first trim the blank. The width and length of the blank depends on the size of future confectionery. You can focus on generally accepted standards and try on ordinary anniversary or coffee cookies bought in a store. As for the choice of wood, larch, beech, oak are suitable for these purposes. The workpiece is cut from the board using a jigsaw. Then it is fixed on the work surface and transferred to a pre-prepared sketch image. All the details of the composition on the cookie should be convex, respectively, the background does not need to be processed. A set of tools for work varies depending on its complexity.To cut it was easier, you need to select the source image, drawn with halftones. Then the master will be easier to navigate with the depth of cutting elements. For printed cookies, labels, unpretentious landscapes with trees and birds, animals, flower arrangements, and “bouquets” of ears of corn are often chosen.
Cut the plates
Labels are usually irregular in shape. The contours of the product are emphasized by the bends of the letters, so you will have to tinker with the workpiece, cutting out excess fragments in certain places. Letters can be drawn by hand using a pencil and a ruler, or you can download a ready-made inscription from the Internet. Making plates is very simple, so the option is ideal for beginner cutters. A knife-kosyachka and the Bogorodsky Tatyanka set are enough for work. After cutting, the plate is ground and coated with stain. When the composition has dried, the recesses are further emphasized with a second layer. The inscriptions on the plates for the bath are supplemented by clouds, oak or birch leaves, ladles, basins with brooms. For the street they use a beautiful, even font and neat curls along the contour, since here the drawings will be inappropriate. In the same way, you can make an original sign for a trading shop or a beer hall, for example.
Conclusion
One eminent sculptor once said that composition is the most difficult in art. There are no general rules for its preparation. You can only comprehend the algorithm for constructing a composition and develop a subtle artistic taste in yourself by observing nature. There is nothing more perfect than the natural system of elements. This advice applies not only to sculptors, architects or artists, but also to wood carvers. First, during training, beginners use ready-made drawings to fill their hand and acquire the skills necessary to create quality work. However, in the future, everyone tries to take timid steps in the field of the artist, where one skill is not enough.You will need the ability to subtly feel the balance in a composition that has been developed over the years. Only by learning to combine craftsmanship and artistic taste, the carver has the right to be called a master who creates products "with the soul."
Wood carving is a type of decorative and applied art, which was widespread and especially popular in the territories of modern Russia. In almost every region of the country, their own traditions of carving ornaments, patterns, figures of people and animals on wooden surfaces have formed. Wood generally refers to the favorite materials of Russian people. Perhaps the "roots" of this love go deep into history and are lost somewhere in the days of pagan beliefs, when any natural objects were given a sacred meaning, and trees were generally considered to be a "genus", that is, the progenitor of existence, the personification of mother nature. Be that as it may, the wood is really very “warm”, cozy, homely material, which is also environmentally friendly. At the moment, there are many ways to process wood, but traditional carving is a step above any “industrial” techniques. Carving ornaments, paintings, figures, craftsmen put their soul into their work.We won’t be able to teach how to give a part of ourselves to the created product, but we will introduce the basics of working with wood, which will be useful to any novice carver.
Content
History of Origin and Development
Wood can rightfully be considered one of the oldest materials used by man. At the dawn of time, people realized how affordable and easy to process wood can be. They began to attract it everywhere for construction. The art of carving is closely intertwined with a separate type of architecture - wooden architecture. People never suppressed their inner desires to surround themselves with beautiful things. This desire for beauty often became the impetus for the development of art in different directions. Threading was no exception. As usual, at first all the best was laid on the altars for the deities, who were worshiped in those days. The Shigirsky idol is considered the oldest example of woodcarving art. He was found during excavations near Yekaterinburg. The product is a figuratively cropped post with thematic drawings on the surface. According to scientists, this idol was created in the middle of the VIII century. A pillar was made of larch (contrary to the common misconception about oak). In addition to the Shigirsky idol, there are later finds decorated with carved elements, but the technique of those masters was primitive and rude. Modern man would rather call them original than beautiful.It affected the influence of poor tools used by masters of those times.
And now we’ll take a big leap into almost ten centuries and go back to the 16th century, when the first artisans of carvers began to appear. From the field of rites and paganism, woodcarving gradually passed on to everyday life. Scanty furnishings and wooden utensils began to decorate with bizarre patterns. The technique has become more elegant, thanks to an expanded set of special tools that the masters began to use. In addition to ordinary wood, even tree roots and burls (a type of growth) were used. With their bizarre, irregular shapes, they inspired abstract associations and pushed carvers to create original asymmetric household items. Artels massively decorated temples, cathedrals, palaces and homes of wealthy citizens. Most household utensils (from chests to spoons) were covered with decorative patterns. Since even the middle class tried to decorate houses, a separate direction appeared called house carving. Many samples have survived to this day. Most of them have become official monuments of art. In parallel with house carving, a more complex technique appeared - volumetric. Embossed decorations required great skill from the carvers, but the result was worth it. Chests, chairs, toys, coasters, gingerbread boards (similar to trays), spoons, snuff-boxes, caskets, headboards, trims and window shutters were decorated with carvings. Although a couple of decades ago this art form was in decline, gradually the traditions of ancient Russian woodcarving are reviving. It is not in vain that they say that everything new was just well forgotten.
Types of thread
Wood carving is classified into the following subtypes and directions:
The above techniques are classified as basic, but the list is not limited to them. Much less often, they use threading techniques with a matched and cushioned background, savory cutting.
Where can be applied
Wood carving is widely used in interior and landscape design. Although such products are most consistent with the ethnic Russian style, the beautiful work of the master can organically integrate into the Scandinavian, eco direction, eclecticism, Provence (generally any kind of country), modern, classic and even fusion. The interior uses either carved household items (chests, caskets, inkwells, coasters, furniture elements) or decorative details that play an exclusively decoration role (cornices, murals on certain areas of walls, edging arches, doors).To design the exterior of the house and the adjacent territories, gazebos, benches, platbands, pediments, gates and gates, fences made using the woodcarving technique are purchased.
The choice of material for work
When choosing wood, you should pay attention to three criteria:
If the wood carver is stored independently in the neighboring forest, then the material must be dried. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in the summer, since the tree should lie outdoors in 1-2 weeks. If the workpiece has impressive dimensions, then this period is increased to 1-2 months. Do not leave material on the street during the "rainy season". There will be no sense from such a procedure, since at a high level of environmental humidity, water from micropores will not disappear. After street drying, the wood is brought into the house, but is not placed next to heating appliances. Residual moisture will be removed within a week. For small workpieces, digestion technology is suitable. They are put in a container of water, which is heated and boiled for 2-3 hours. This express method allows you to quickly "squeeze" the remaining moisture from the micropores of the wood. After the procedure, the blanks are given a “rest” in the house for about a week.
Basic Craft Tools
In order for the work to argue, few skills and abilities are not enough, you also need to use high-quality tools.It is possible that Nicolo Paganini compensated his violin for his skills by playing on one string, but this legend refers to exceptions to the general rule. The standard list of woodcarver tools includes:
And now in more detail we consider the varieties of chisels, which can rightfully be considered the main tool of the carver.
Types of Chisels
Depending on the characteristics of the blade and the field of application, the chisels are classified into the following types:
Each master in the set has his own favorite tools, which he uses most often. Usually, such a touching attachment develops over the years of labor, when the carver has already developed his individual style of work. For beginners, it remains only to stuff themselves "bumps" by trial and error until the ideal tool is found.
Work Precautions
When cutting wood, there is always a risk of damage to the hands of the craftsman, and fingers for carvers are the main tool of work.All devices are sharp enough and just one awkward movement is enough to cut the skin, or even completely cut off something important. Therefore, you should not neglect the safety rules, which are not so difficult to follow:
Also, it is not recommended to have heating devices near the workplace, light candles, or smoke. The chips are flammable, so any contact with fire should be limited.
Geometric carving master class
As mentioned above, geometric carving is considered one of the simplest, therefore, ideal for training novice masters. A minimal set of tools is required to work. During the cutting process, only accuracy matters. Elements of the picture must have clear symmetry. The images themselves consist of repeating zones that form a single elegant composition.
Technology and sequence of geometric thread
The drawing in the technique of geometric carving is based on various simple shapes: circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids and rhombs, which complement with straight and broken lines. Contrary to the errors of the layman, the finished compositions are devoid of angularity and rudeness. The play of light and shadow emphasizes the relief of the image. Plots, as such, have no geometric thread. She conveys the mood and clearly demonstrates the skill of the author. The finished product can amaze with the complexity and subtlety of work, and sometimes adheres to the principles of laconicism, which does not affect its perception. Very often, the composition of the composition is based on traditional Russian ornaments, which were previously considered "amulets" from evil forces. The process of working in the technique of geometric carving is conventionally divided into stages:
After drying, carved crafts can be used for their intended purpose.
Necessary tools
To work in the technique of geometric carving, you will need a minimum set of tools:
The first type of knife is used to cut straight lines that form angular geometric shapes, and the second - for "grooves" with soft bends.
Create a sketch of a pattern
Craftsmen who have a “full hand” apply the patterns directly to the workpiece using a pencil and compass, a ruler. For beginners, it is better to first draw a sketch on paper or use ready-made drawings that can be easily found on the World Wide Web. The patterns are printed, and then applied to the blank and circled along the contour using a carbon paper. When the drawing is completely transferred to the workpiece, you can begin to cut the composition.
Cut out patterns
You need to start with soft details (circles, petals, smooth lines). For work, use a pen-knife. It is clamped in the hand between the palm and the index finger. The thumb is set aside and leaned against the workpiece. He will serve as a support. A bent index finger will become a regulator of the pressure on the tool and its angle. The depth of the “groove” will depend on this. Remember that you need to cut "from yourself." First, one part of the composition is processed (left or right depends on the leading hand), and then the blank is turned over and the second part of the pattern is continued to be cut.
Now a knife-jamb comes into play for working on triangular elements. This tool is held differently. It is clamped between the index and thumb, like a pencil, but at the very end of the pen, closer to the blade. The “heel” of the knife is forcefully driven into the workpiece at an angle of 45 degrees, but not at the very edge of the figure, but with a slight indentation. It must be done so that the notch has “gentle” edges. "Grooves" with such a relief look prettier. The edges of the triangles should converge. Using the same algorithm, the remaining elements of the picture are cut out. Spent pieces of wood should be in the form of pyramids, then the work is done correctly.
Grinding and impregnation of the finished product
To smooth the roughness of the edges of the "grooves", the surface of the craft should be lightly sanded with sandpaper. Then the product is impregnated with a special composition. Some coat varnish, but most masters prefer the waxing process (wax mastic) or coating the surface with oil. In this case, the craft will acquire a light, natural shine. Usually use linseed, dandelion, peppermint, seven-herb oil. The same compounds are great for soaking dishes. The craft is densely greased with a tool, after which the oil is “rubbed” into the wood. Now the product should dry. It is best to put it on the street to dry under the sun. Some people put products near the battery or use a hairdryer to speed up the process.
Master class of cookie cutters
To make a cookie cutter, you must first trim the blank. The width and length of the blank depends on the size of future confectionery. You can focus on generally accepted standards and try on ordinary anniversary or coffee cookies bought in a store. As for the choice of wood, larch, beech, oak are suitable for these purposes. The workpiece is cut from the board using a jigsaw. Then it is fixed on the work surface and transferred to a pre-prepared sketch image. All the details of the composition on the cookie should be convex, respectively, the background does not need to be processed. A set of tools for work varies depending on its complexity.To cut it was easier, you need to select the source image, drawn with halftones. Then the master will be easier to navigate with the depth of cutting elements. For printed cookies, labels, unpretentious landscapes with trees and birds, animals, flower arrangements, and “bouquets” of ears of corn are often chosen.
Cut the plates
Labels are usually irregular in shape. The contours of the product are emphasized by the bends of the letters, so you will have to tinker with the workpiece, cutting out excess fragments in certain places. Letters can be drawn by hand using a pencil and a ruler, or you can download a ready-made inscription from the Internet. Making plates is very simple, so the option is ideal for beginner cutters. A knife-kosyachka and the Bogorodsky Tatyanka set are enough for work. After cutting, the plate is ground and coated with stain. When the composition has dried, the recesses are further emphasized with a second layer. The inscriptions on the plates for the bath are supplemented by clouds, oak or birch leaves, ladles, basins with brooms. For the street they use a beautiful, even font and neat curls along the contour, since here the drawings will be inappropriate. In the same way, you can make an original sign for a trading shop or a beer hall, for example.
Conclusion
One eminent sculptor once said that composition is the most difficult in art. There are no general rules for its preparation. You can only comprehend the algorithm for constructing a composition and develop a subtle artistic taste in yourself by observing nature. There is nothing more perfect than the natural system of elements. This advice applies not only to sculptors, architects or artists, but also to wood carvers. First, during training, beginners use ready-made drawings to fill their hand and acquire the skills necessary to create quality work. However, in the future, everyone tries to take timid steps in the field of the artist, where one skill is not enough.You will need the ability to subtly feel the balance in a composition that has been developed over the years. Only by learning to combine craftsmanship and artistic taste, the carver has the right to be called a master who creates products "with the soul."