DIY Network

Bear Head Sculpting, part 2 Master wood carver Jim Wilsford shows how to carve a bear's head in basswood. From "Woodsculpting" episode DWDS-106

In this episode of DIY's Woodsculpting, Jim Wilsford demonstrates how to carve a head of a bear out of a 2-inch block of basswood - using some unconventional tools. In this next part, Jim refines the details of the bear's face and carves the bear a fur coat. Then, finally, he gives the piece a black bear's natural color.

Giving out some of his master carving secrets, Jim Wilsford shows how to create this intricate bear head (photo at right).

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Materials:

wood
stencil of basic form
band saw
high-speed mini grinder (running at about 25,000 rpm)
abrasive wheel
cuts-all blade
little diamond blade
"extreme" bits
dental tools
knife
sanding tool
pencil
ceramic inverted cone tools
ceramic flat cone tool
acrylic sealer
latex paints
paintbrushes

14. Using the sanding tool bit in the mini-grinder, clean up wood around the eyes, nose, and ears (figure A). The other tools were a little rough, and this tool fine sands and sculpts the edges (figure B).

figure A

figure B

15. Now, it's time for the mouth. First, draw a line at the end of his nose (figure C). Then, on the centerline (figure D), starting just below the nose, draw a straight-line back stopping where the corner of the eye lines up vertically (figure E). This will be one side of the mouth. Do the same thing for the other side (figure F).

figure C

figure D

figure E

figure F

16. Using the bottom edge of the sanding tool and following the drawn line, cut out the mouth (figures G & H). Then smooth out the excess wood around the mouth and the chin (figure I).

figure G

figure H

figure I

17. Now using the little diamond tool, carve out the fine details of the nostrils on the nose (figure J) and clean out the eyes (figure K).

figure J

figure K

figure L

18. Next, give the bear a place to stand by creating the pile of rocks with the conical abrasive tool (figure L).

19. Using the ceramic stones, carve out the fur starting at the muzzle and working outward, following the direction that fur grows (figures M & N).

figure M

figure N

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