Carving a simple Wood Spirit

**SOAR** · 28-12-2010, 20:23

As I was asked to do a tutorial I thought I would give it a go, now I have not carved many of these before so I'm no expert but this is how I carve them.
I used a small piece of Ash about 3cm wide, so the detail is never going to be as good as a large carving.

The tools I have been using are cheap detail carving tools like these you can get them from Ebay I think I got these a few years ago for a pound.

I start off by carving out the size and shape of the face with the 6mm gouge.

When I am happy with the face size I remove the bark leaving the nose in bark.

I leave the bark on the nose as a guide, you can use pencil to mark out your face details if you want or you can just do the whole carving by eye. For the next bit I use a pen or pencil to mark out details of the eye sockets and the moustache.

**SOAR** · 28-12-2010, 20:26

Here you can see where the top of the eye sockets are and the shape of the moustache marked out in pencil.

Now I start to carve out the eye sockets using the 6mm gouge, to determine the depth of the eye sockets you have to imagine how big your spirits nose will be.

When your happy with the eye sockets.

You can then remove any wood around the face to give the moustache, beard, and nose the shape and depth you want.

To remove the bark from the beard I use the 7mm straight bevel.

**SOAR** · 28-12-2010, 20:31

Now at this stage when your happy with with your spirits face and beard you can start to add detail, I use the v shaped tool to carve out an outline around the beard

As this is only a small simple carving I am not too bothered with the eye detail so I use a 4mm gouge tho carve out the eyes

Now you can start of by adding the hair, eye brows and other details to your wood spirit.

Now that its taking shape you can refine any other details or re shape any part of the face if your not happy with it.

**SOAR** · 28-12-2010, 20:37

At this stage I am quite happy with it and have an idea as to what this little spirit will become, so I start to carve the top and bottom of the spirit with the knife.

The idea I had for this little fellow now I'm happy with him was to soak him in scented oil add some elastic.

And turn him into a air freshner for the van at work, now he can watch over me all day.

**stekker** · 28-12-2010, 20:55

Very nice done.
He has a very friendly expression!

Theo

**pastymuncher** · 28-12-2010, 21:01

Excellent, nice work.

**CraigM9** · 28-12-2010, 22:14

Thanks for a very informative and inspiring tutorial!

Much appreciated.

Craig.

**Chambers** · 28-12-2010, 22:16

Fantastic tutorial, thanks

**lab72** · 28-12-2010, 22:21

thats cool i think might have to have a go (wanders to shed muttering were did i put those chisals)

**stinger** · 28-12-2010, 22:25

excellent tutorial buddy. i think ill be saving this thread in the favorites folder

**Shambling Shaman** · 29-12-2010, 13:14

That is fantastic thanks for that

**Whittler Kev** · 29-12-2010, 14:30

Nice job. It makes a brill PDF for my growing collection

**Knightfisher8** · 29-12-2010, 14:56

excellent , iv tried and failed miserably trying these !

**Melonfish** · 29-12-2010, 15:05

ooh i reckon i know what i'll be doing tomorrow morning and prolly most of this week.
any particular wood good for giving this a go?

**Hoodoo** · 29-12-2010, 15:53

Well done and a nice tutorial!

**Sniper** · 29-12-2010, 19:41

Nice simple tutorial mate, I'm looking at getting myself a staff this year and this would be a great way of decorating and personalising it. Cheers.

**Echoes of the old ways** · 29-12-2010, 20:39

Wow this is fantastic!..
I whittled a mother earth type goddess statue a few years ago and loved working with the wood and watching her take shape.
it was from a piece of silver birch I picked up on a walk, which just kind of "spoke" to me.
I want to get started on one of the ones you've shown right now

I just used a sharp knife for the statue I made, but these little tools look great and much safer to be using with the kids hanging around watching.
will have a look on ebay for some.
thanks for posting this

**SOAR** · 02-01-2011, 19:53

Thanks guys, I look forward to seeing some of your carvings.

**luckylee** · 02-01-2011, 20:02

i have just bought some of these tools, just waiting for them to arrive, a real bargain.

**fred gordon** · 02-01-2011, 20:12

Very nice indeed. You should offer these for sale. Support your favourite Charity perhaps?

**Echoes of the old ways** · 02-01-2011, 20:44

Just bought some small carving tools from ebay.. gonna start another thread as I want to ask about woods etc thanks for the inspiration

**woodspirits** · 02-01-2011, 21:10

nice work simon, good tutorial too.

**bikebum1975** · 02-01-2011, 22:53

Really cool maybe picking up aset of them myself now been trying to carve one out with just my old Swiss Army Knife.

**Echoes of the old ways** · 02-01-2011, 23:12

Link for the ones I got.. only just ordered so can't comment on quality, but think should be ok for starters.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230560976988

**woodspirits** · 02-01-2011, 23:29

Originally Posted by Echoes of the old ways

Link for the ones I got.. only just ordered so can't comment on quality, but think should be ok for starters.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230560976988

handy little kit, dont forget to get a kevlar or at least a sturdy leather glove, they do bite!

**Echoes of the old ways** · 02-01-2011, 23:51

Originally Posted by woodspirits

handy little kit, dont forget to get a kevlar or at least a sturdy leather glove, they do bite!

Oh good tip.. thank you

**hog** · 03-01-2011, 11:16

That Sir is Fantastic.

**SOAR** · 03-01-2011, 13:13

Originally Posted by Echoes of the old ways

Link for the ones I got.. only just ordered so can't comment on quality, but think should be ok for starters.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230560976988

They should do the job.

**SOAR** · 03-01-2011, 13:14

Originally Posted by hog

That Sir is Fantastic.

Thanks hog

**Whittler Kev** · 03-01-2011, 16:02

My Grandson (then just over 1) ordered my set from EvilBay. I was looking, he hit return, I was hovering over buy now. Thought I might as well

Prefer my Flexcut Carvin' Jack though

. Stays razor sharp and all contained in a folder

Price of £100 is a little dear though
http://www.classichandtools.com/acat...net_Jacks.html
I got mine off here secondhand and love it.

Word of caution

- I was advised to get a "wrong handed" one so you slice away from you instead of toward you. I use pull strokes more, so got a normal right handed one.
This doesn't read to good for them though, http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...vin-jack-1151/ , and axminsters don't appear to stock them anymore

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