What Type of Carving Goes All the Way Through Wood?

Carving in the Round

• Carving in the round is a type of wood carving that utilizes the entire block of wood. Unlike many other types of carving, which appear only on one side of the wood, carving in the round produces a fully formed figure. With this technique, carving through the block of wood to create a negative space reinforces the three-dimensional quality of the figure. Carving in the round techniques usually produce smooth, finished pieces.

Whittling

• Whittling is a rougher version of carving in the round. With this technique, a carving can encompass an entire block of wood but the figure is made with a rougher, choppier cut that does not get smoothed or finished. Whittling is an impulsive, on-the-fly carving technique that is made less deliberately and more spontaneously. Like carving in the round, a whittling may involve the use of negative space to reinforce the three-dimensional quality of the figure.

Relief Carving

• Relief carving can go all the way through the wood -- there is no rule that says it cannot. However, relief carving is meant to appear only on one side of the piece of wood being carved. The front is the side meant to be viewed, while the back is usually a flat surface. This means that if the carving does go all the way through to the other side of the wood block, the carving itself still is visible from only one side.

Specialty Items

• Some specialty items such as wooden love spoons and wooden jewelry nearly always involve carving through the wood to the other side. For rings, it is an obvious necessity. A Welsh love spoon is a decorative wooden spoon that involves a well-crafted handle, often displaying a heart to show love. Love spoons represent a unique blend of carving in the round and relief carving, because the object itself is a flat carving with a distinctive front and back side, both of which are meant to be attractive. Love spoons often have a variety of holes coursing through the handle.

Tools

• The tools you use -- especially for carving through wood -- should be kept sharp for ease of use. Chisels and gouges both may be used to form the hole through the wood. As you grow used to using these tools, you will develop a preference for specific tools, as well as a style all your own.