DIY Network

Wood-Spirit Carving, Part 2 From "Woodsculpting" episode DWDS-101

	Vic Hood at work on one of his wood-spirit carvings.

In this episode of DIY's Woodsculpting Workshop, Tennessee-native carver Vic Hood creates a "wood spirit" facial carving. In this segment he creates the details and expression of the weathered face, including the most expressive feature of all -- the eyes. Lastly, he applies a wood finish.

Materials used in this episode:

Wood slab
Chisels (#5, #7, #11, etc.)
Neoprene-covered carver's mallet
Carving knife
Wood-burning tool
Felt-tip marker
Pencil
Linseed oil and mineral spirits for finish
Brushes and rags
Protective gloves

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Wood Spirit: Facial Detail and Eyes

According the Vic Hood, the essence of woodcarving can be found in the highlights, cast shadows, reflected light and the illusion of movement. In a good carving, all of those elements work together to create a unified effect.

Vic follows the facial outline he drew earlier on the raw wood slab. Using just a #5 and a #11 chisel, he deepens the carved lines to form the outline of the face. The deeper cuts of the face increase the potential for creating shadows. With the initial carving of the face underway, Vic can begin moving into the detail work.

• With much of the surface carved away in the area of the face, Vic re-establishes the centerline of the face with a marker (figure A), being careful to keep the proportions intact.

• Using the wider #5 chisel, he carves the pitch of the face (figure B).

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• Continuing with the same chisel, he further establishes the eyes and nose (figure C).

• He then moves to smaller tools, including a #6 chisel, to put in more detail work, including sharpening the line of the nose (figure D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  Figure E

• Now work can begin on the details of the eyes. Vic re-establishes the eye line, making certain that the line is perpendicular to the centerline and symmetrical.

• He carves out the round shape of the eye using the small chisel (figure E). He uses a pencil to mark off the fine lines he will follow to create the edges of the eyes and lids, and also to draw in the location of the iris in the center portion of the eye.
  

  Figure F

• Since this facial carving depicts a bearded character, the detail of the mouth will not be visible. However, placement and underlying facial structure are still important. On either side of the face, the edge of the mouth should line up vertically with the corner of the mouth. For reference, Vic makes markings to indicate the edge of the mouth (figure F) before he begins carving the mustache and beard.
  

• Using his outline as reference, Vic carves the outline of the mustache.

• As he removes wood from beneath the mouth area, the mustache becomes more prominent (figure G).

• Creating the flowing hair and beard is done with larger tools -- such as the #11 chisel -- rather than trying to depict individual "hairs" with small tools. The larger cuts depict movement and sweep of the hair rather than trying to replicate its texture. This is an opportunity to create the flow and focal points of this wood sculpture (figure H).

  Figure G

  Figure H

  
  

With the "bigger" portions of the face and form complete, Vic moves on to the eyes. If the eyes are the window to the soul, the eyes of a carving create much in the way of expression. Here is Vic's technique for creating that special quality that eyes possess.

• Vic creates the iris and white of the eyes, but does not actually carve in the pupil. Rather he creates the illusion of a "glint" of light at the center of the eye.

• First, he uses a #7 chisel to outline the iris (figure I).

• He then uses a small chisel or knife to carefully remove the wood surrounding the iris, leaving the iris portions raised (figure J).

  Figure I

  Figure J

  
  

• He then re-darkens the iris with a pencil, then cuts out a small portion at the very center to create the dramatic "glint" (figure K).

• Finally, he uses a wood-burning tool with a writing tip to permanently darken the areas of the iris surrounding the center (figure L) to give a more intense look to the eye.

  Figure K

  Figure L

  
  

  	Figure M
  	Woocarving artist and instructor Vic Hood.
  	Vic describes carving as an art form with wood as the sculptors medium. He strives for his pieces to possess movement or "flow" and -- in the best pieces -- a sense of nobility.

RESOURCES :

Fox Chapel Publishing Co.
Publishers of
Woodcarving Illustrated magazine and numerous books on woodcarving.
1970 Broad Street
East Petersburg, PA 17520

Websites:
www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Fox Chapel Publishing, featured authors

Special DIY page at www.woodcarvingillustrated.com

Woodcarving Illustrated magazine
Website: www.woodcarvingillustrated.com

Carving Found Wood
By Vic Hood
Fox Chapel Publishing Company (October, 2002)
ISBN: 1565231597
Carving Found Wood

To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.

Extreme Pumpkin Carving
By Vic Hood and Jack A. Williams
ISBN: 1565232135
Fox Chapel Publishing Company (October, 2002)
ISBN: 1565231597
Extreme Pumpkin Carving

To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.

Fox Chapel Books on the art of carving wood spirits

GUESTS :

Vic Hood, wood sculptor
Franklin, TN
Vic Hood bio