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Posted 6/28/2010 @ 10:34:58 am by pigeonforgesays.com
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 Woodcarving makes both a wonderful relaxing hobby and profession of craftsmanship that requires special cutting tools to create wooden figurines with the finer points of carving. This type of intricate carving takes an artistic skill and expertise where the piece of wood is decorated with special cuts in exquisite detail to affect and enhance the finished product into a highly prized work of art. Inexperienced wood carvers tend to find the eyes of birds and animals to be the most difficult part of carving. Since they experience this difficulty in being able to bring out the expression in the eyes of their creations, one of the tricks of the trade is to place a colored substance in for eyes.
 If you are interested in woodcarving there are numerous sites that explain the tools necessary for creating your woodcarving project as well as training videos showing you how to safely use the tools and guide you on how to to begin your own wooden artwork. There are many woodworking magazines that have patterns to use to make most everything from furniture, wooden toys, cabinets, and more. Because you create them yourself they can be as ornamental as you desire and they end up being unique one-of-a-kind objects. The magazines show you techniques and tips for your carving projects. There are other magazines that explain and show you techniques for 3-D sculpting. Woodcarving comes in many art forms so you need to select the ones that appeal to you and your needs. Visit your local woodworking displays and contests to see the many woodcarving pieces and see other techniques for woodworking projects.
 Woodcarvers should know the verbiage and have some knowledge of how to prepare the wood and the techniques you will use when it comes to working with the wood you purchase or gather for your projects. Pine, rosewood, basswood, cedar, cherry and mahogany are some of the typical and most popular woods used by many carvers. Mahogany is slightly on the exotic side of the spectrum while pine and cedar are rather ordinary. Your best bet for buying wood is to acquire untreated and plain sawed stock boards.
 In the Smoky Mountains, almost everywhere you go, you will find various arts and crafts communities selling all manner of art. All through the summer and especially into the fall, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg host many different craftsmen festivals to attend, get ideas for your own projects, talk to the local carvers and maybe get some good tips. When attending these craft fairs, the artistic ability of the artwork presented for display and sale is truly amazing with the life-like reality of the creatures carved into the wooden artwork. But just remember not to be intimidated as these craftsmen had to begin just like you, and after many years have been able to refine and tool their art to perfection. With some patience and persistance you, too, may end up selling your woodcarvings and be able to offer help to a novice by passing along a tidbit or two of your knowledge and experience.
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