Manly miniature wood carving tutorial

Carve yourself a little ginger-haired logger man.

 LEVEL: SOME CHALLENGES

Making a miniature wood carving is tons of fun and great practice for carving larger caricatures.  

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions to make it easy to carve this little man. He’s happily taking a break from cutting up tree logs. 

You won’t find other online tutorials that include this many photos, which can help you get the great results you want.  

You also won’t have to worry about carving eyes with a piece this small.  

Have a great time carving him! 

Miniature wood carving

What you will need for your miniature wood carving

I used a basswood block that is 1 x 1 x 3 inches (2.5 x 2.5 x 7.6 cm).  To go larger, simply double (or triple) the pattern measurements. 

You will need something to sketch your guidelines with, a ruler (if you don’t want to wing it), and safety gloves—as always.

I used a long blade knife for most of the piece and switched to a smaller detail knife for carving the facial details.

I also used a 4 mm micro U-gouge and a 4 mm micro V-tool, but provide suggested cuts if you do not have these tools.  

If you’re a lap carver, please ALWAYS make sure you protect your vital leg arteries with something hard—like a square cutting board. 

Miniature wood carving tutorial at-a-glance

This short video provides a quick overview of the key steps for this tutorial. You may want to watch it before you start carving. 

Setting up your miniature wood carving

Draw a guideline on the front that is 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) from the top of the wood block to mark the bottom of the head (photo 1).  

Draw anther guideline all around that is about 2.75 inches (7 cm) from the top to mark the top of the feet (photos 1-4).  

Draw a guideline on the back of the block, that is 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the top to mark the bottom of the back of the head (photo 4). Note: The bottom of the back of the head is a little bit higher than the bottom of the front of the head (visible in photos 2,3). Tip: Mark the front and the back with an “F” and a “B” to avoid confusion (visible in photos 1,4).

Draw guidelines that meet with the front and back guidelines on the right and left sides (photos 2,3). 

Front guidelines on tiny wood carving man1. Front guidelines are drawn
Guidelines on right side of tiny wood carving man2. Right view of guidelines
Left guidelines on tiny wood carving man3. Left guidelines are drawn
Back guidelines on tiny wood carving man4. Back guidelines are drawn

Separate the head all around

Use stop cuts to separate the head all around (photo 5) with your knife (or use a V-tool).  

Mark a triangle on each side that starts around 2.75 inches (7 cm) from the top of the block (photo 6). Starting at each corner, remove the wood you marked (photos 7,8). Be very careful here not to slip and carve off the feet!  If you do, just add a little wood glue and wait 24 hours before you continue carving.

Making a stop cut on tiny wood carving5. Making a stop cut
Marking wood for removal6. Wood is marked for removal
Cutting into legs on tiny wood carving man7. Cutting into legs
Legs are cut on tiny wood carving man8. Legs are cut

Sketch the arms on your miniature wood carving

Sketch the arms on the sides of your miniature wood carving (photos 9,10). The pants can come down over the shoes in the back; add the pant line on both legs to reserve that wood (visible in photos 9,10).

You want to give the impression that this little guy is leaning a little forward. You will slightly curve the back by removing some wood (marked in photos 9,10).

The arms are about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) wide. The inner crook of the arm is about  1/2 inch (1.3 cm) from the belly.

Don’t worry if your sketch isn’t perfect. You will be able to refine and shape the arms after you separate them. 

Right arm is drawn on tiny-wood-carving-tiny wood carving man9. Right arm is sketched
Left arm is sketched on tiny wood carving man10. Left arm is sketched

Carve the arms on your miniature wood carving

Carve off the wood you marked across the back side of the miniature wood carving (completed in photo 12). You can use push or pull cuts here.  Also, carve back the upper arms on the front (photo 11).

Start to separate the arm by making a cut across the bottom of the sleeve, holding your knife like a pencil (photo 12). Make a second slicing cut (photo 13) at an angle. Use the same method to carve the rest of the arm (completed in photo 14). You can also use stop cuts, or a V-tool. Once you have access, you can shave some wood off the belly, up to the neck (visible in photo 15) . 

Repeat same process on the other arm. 

Carving back upper arms on tiny wood carving man11. Carving back upper shoulder
Starting to carve the arm on tiny wood carving man12. Using a pencil hold to cut
Making second slicing cut on tiny wood carving man13. Making second slicing cut
Cut into top of shoulder on tiny wood carving man14. Cutting top of shoulder toward the neck
Arm is carved on tiny wood carving man15. Arm is separated
Progress photo of tiny wood carving man16. Progress photo (front)

Narrow your miniature wood carving

Narrow the sides (hips) on the lower body of your miniature wood carving (photo 17).

Use your knife to remove some wood and create a curved tush (completed in photo 18).

Shaping the hips on your tiny wood carving man17. Shaping the hips
Progress photo of back of tiny wood carving18. Progress photo of lower back

Set up the head of your miniature wood carving

Mark the top of the head where you will remove wood to create a corner on the front, which will make it easier to get depth for carving the nose (photo 19). Remove wood on each side of the new corner (photo 20). Optional: I shaped mine so that the head is turned slightly to the left. 

Reserve an ear box on each side (photos 21,22). Each box is about 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) square.  

On the front, draw a guideline that is 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the top to mark the bottom of the nose.  It extends about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) on each side of the new corner (photo 23).

Draw a second guideline that is a little more than 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) from the top, to mark the eye-line (photo 23). 

Top of tiny wood carving is marked for removal19. Wood is marked for removal
Removing wood to shape face on tiny wood carving20. Removing wood to shape face
Right ear is marked on tiny wood carving21. Right ear box is added
Left ear box is added to tiny wood carving22. Left ear box is added
Front face guidelines on tiny wood carving man23. Nose and eye-line guidelines

Carve the nose on your miniature wood carving

Make a stop cut to establish the eyeline on your miniature wood carving. After cutting straight across, cut up to angle the corners downward (photo 24). 

Make a stop cut under the nose and remove wood from underneath (photo 25).

Sketch the shape of the nose (photo 26). Switch to a smaller detail knife (strop it sharp first) to separate the nose. Move your knife along the guideline and make a second slicing cut. Once you have access, you can remove wood up to the eye line.  

Add a triangle on each side of the nose (photo 27) to mark wood that you will remove using small pyramid cuts.

Sketch the nostrils (photo 28). I used a 4mm micro U-gouge to carve the nostrils (completed in photo 29). If you do not have this tool, carefully shape the curved nostrils with a knife that has some flex to it.  Be careful not to break your knife here.

Carving eyeline on tiny wood carving man24. Carving the eyeline
Making stop cut under nose on tiny wood carving man25. Making a stop cut under the nose
Carving nose on tiny wood carving man26. Shaping the nose
Adding wings on tiny wood carving man nose27. Wings on the nose
Nostrils are drawn on tiny wood carving man nose28. Nostrils are marked

Carve the head details on your miniature wood carving

Carve the forehead back and sketch the hairline and mouth (photo 29). Also, shape the top of the eyes so they curve slightly (completed in photo 29).

Start to narrow and shape the chin (photo 29). Use stop cuts to separate each ear box (or use a V-tool) and mark the wood for shaping (photo 30). After the ears are shaped, use a 4mm micro U-gouge to scoop wood out of the inner ear (photo 31). If you don’t have this gouge, simply make a wide V-cut in the front—toward the middle—of each ear.

Use stop cuts to separate the hairline all around (photo 31). Separate the mouth by moving your knife along the guideline and making a second slicing cut. Optional: Use your knife to make small pyramid cuts in each corner of the mouth and shape a tongue (visible in photos 33,34) with the 4mm micro U-gouge. 

Sketch the mustache (photo 33) that you will separate from the beard with stop cuts.

Carving chin on tiny wood carving man29. Narrowing the chin
Ears are marked for removal on tiny wood carving man30. Shaping the outer ear
Using gouge on ear on tiny wood carving man31. Shaping the inner ear
Carving hairline on tiny wood carving man32. Separating the hairline
Adding mustache to tiny wood carving man33. Mustache is added

Add more details to your miniature wood carving

Sketch the shirt and pants on your miniature wood carving (photos 34-37). Also, mark where you will split the legs.

Draw a little Y on the back (photo 37) to define the tush.

Use your knife to remove some wood on the front pants, leaving a slight mound on each hip to suggest the man’s hands are deep inside his pockets (completed in photos 34-36). 

Clothes are sketched on front of tiny wood carving man34. Front view of details
Clothes are sketched on right side of tiny wood carving man35. Right view of details
Clothes are sketched on left side of tiny wood carving man36. Left view of details
Clothes are sketched on back of tiny wood carving man37. Back view of details

Finish your miniature wood carving

Use stop cuts to separate the shirt neckline on the front (completed in photo 38) and the back (photo 41). Also separate the pants (photos 38-41).

Use a micro V-tool (or make V-cuts with knife) to carve the hair on the beard and the mustache (completed in photos 38-40).

All completed in photos 38-41: Carefully split the legs—on the front and the back—with V-cuts. You may have to dig a bit to get the wood out. Tip: Angle your knife so your cuts meet in the middle to cleanly remove wood.Take your time here and be careful not to break your knife tip. 

Once the legs are split, shape the shoes. Tip: Turn your piece upside down and sketch the shape before you cut. Use V-cuts to add a heel on each side. Tip: Mark the heels to be sure they are evenly placed.

Use some V-cuts to add wrinkles to the inside crook of each arm, the pants, and the hair (photos 38-41). Make small V-cuts or stop cuts to carve the Y on the tush (photo 41).

Finally, make a deep plunge cut—starting in the corner of each eye—to give the hint of eyes. 

Front of unpainted tiny wood carving man38. Front of miniature wood carving
Right view of unpainted tiny wood carving man39. Right view
Left view of unpainted tiny wood carving man40. Left view
Back of unpainted tiny wood carving man41. Back of miniature wood carving

Paint your miniature wood carving

Read our page about painting a wood carving, which describes different techniques and provides great tips. Unless noted, all acrylic paints used were diluted with water to create a milky wash.

Here are the paint colors if you want to achieve a similar look:

  • Ears, face, and neck: Wash of 3 drops Ceramcoat tawny medium mixed with 1 drop Windsor & Newton terracotta.
  • Shirt: Wash of Ceramcoat tangerine. Add 1 drop of Academy burnt umber for the wrinkles and edges. Allow to dry completely and use a fine-tip black magic marker to create the plaid pattern.
  • Pants: Wash of Craftsmart navy.  Add 1 drop of burnt umber for the wrinkles and edges.
  • Hair, beard, and mustache: Wash of Craftsmart milk chocolate.
  • Eyebrows: 100% Craftsmart milk chocolate applied with a toothpick. 
  • Lips, cheeks, tongue, and tops of ears: Wash of Windsor & Newton cadmium red light. Add in layers and top with very diluted wash of Apple Barrel flamenco red.
  • Shoes: Apple Barrel golden brown wash. 
  • Dry brush piece with Ceramcoat ivory to highlight facets.
Painted front view of tiny wood carving man42. Front of painted miniature wood carving
Painted right view of tiny wood carving man43. Right view of painted carving
Painted left view of tiny wood carving man44. Left view of painted carving
Painted back view of tiny wood carving man45. Back view of painted carving

Free miniature wood carving pattern

If you prefer to carve your miniature man from a pattern, photocopy this to size to fit your wood block.

Free tiny man wood carving pattern

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