Whether you’re new to wood carving—or you’ve been carving for a while—we know how important it is to “get a project right” and complete a job “well done” that you can be proud of.
When we started carving, we noticed that many tutorials require the use of a band saw, numerous gouges (or other tools), and are missing crucial steps. Our free, step-by-step tutorials are primarily carved directly from a block of wood with a knife or two.
We also often suggest where other tools can be used. This makes our wood carving tutorials perfect for both beginners and more experienced wood carvers.
Trying to figure a project out without clear directions is downright frustrating. Another let down is the lack of pictures of a work-in-progress from different angles.
Our comprehensive tutorials provide easy-to-follow photos and you never have to guess how your carving should look from start to finish.
More awesome projects:
Fun things to carve
Easy wood carving ideas
Carving wood animals
Christmas wood carving ideas
Wood carving gnomes
Carving caricatures
Flat plane carving
Our handy painting guides include specific acrylic paint colors and whether we use a wash (paint diluted with water) or not.
This allows you to easily replicate any colors that you like with any of our carving and whittling projects.
Check out our comprehensive page on painting a wood carving.
The best way to improve your carving is to practice, practice, and practice!
Every time you carve you will learn something new about the ways you can manipulate wood to get the shapes you desire.
Check out our:
”Thank you for your newsletter and website. I do the newsletter for Montana State Woodcarvers and am always looking for information to put in the newsletter.” EM
Of course, you can always easily double (or triple) the dimensions of any of our tutorials to create a larger carving. Or, use our free patterns with a band saw.
There are so many benefits of wood carving that we want to help you experience, including:
Persistence is just as important as practicing.
If your mindset is to become a great carver you will be!
If you are new to carving, check out our how to hand carve wood section that includes a beginner's guide to wood carving, the basic wood carving cuts that you will need, and much more.
It’s easy to get lost in a wood carving and drive yourself to finish quickly.
Try to get in the habit of slowing the process down and taking frequent breaks.
Your hands will stay fresh and you may come back with a different point of view.
Our goal is to teach you to trust the process. When you do, everything will fall into place.
We will help you see that every mistake is a learning opportunity.
Never give up!
Simply look at your creation and see what new direction you can take.
Don't like something? Carve it off and start again. You may end up with an even better carving.
We will also help you learn how to think a carving through, which can help you come up with cool designs on your own.
We strongly suggest that you hold on to all your carvings.
It will help you see where you started and how far you have progressed.
In a short time, you will be amazed at the improvement.
We love collecting great knives and other carving tools and we’re happy to share our honest opinions with you.
What you will not find on our website is lots of spammy product suggestions.
We endorse something because we have used it ourselves—and absolutely love it—or we know someone we respect who recommends it.
Just to let you know… We participate in Amazon and Focuser Carving affiliates program. We make a few pennies if you purchase products we recommend—at no cost to you.
Thanks for your support!
Grab some wood, a super sharp knife, and let those chips fly!
We hope you will share your creations with us. We really want to see your successes.
More awesome projects:
Fun things to carve
Easy wood carving ideas
Carving wood animals
Christmas wood carving ideas
Wood carving gnomes
Carving caricatures
Flat plane carving
Get 50 Wood Carving & Painting Tips
FREE when you join our free Covered in Chips Club
Your information is 100% private and is never shared. Unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy .
Share page on:
Home | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Sitemap