BOB ARMSTRONG FINE ART
  • Home
  • Carvings
  • Carving Archives
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop

My Process for Carving

9/21/2013

0 Comments

 
Many people have asked me about my technique for doing my carved images. I tell them that almost every aspect of the carving is done using hand tools, generally a 1/16 in. V-gouge and a 1/4 in. flat chisel. This is enormously time consuming, but results in a look and feel that cannot be achieved using power tools. This is especially the case with the carvings that I do of the flowers and plants that are featured in these works.
I begin by doing a careful line drawing of the plant. Often I do the drawing on tracing paper, although occasionally I use Strathmore  70 lb. drawing paper. I transfer the drawing to the wood - usually 1/8 in. birch plywood - using Saral carbon paper. I then set about carving the outline using the V-gouge. Once the outline is finished, I go over it with the sharp corner of the flat chisel. I then use the chisel to remove the first layer of wood, and to carve into it as desired. I sharpen these tools every 20 minutes or so using a soft pine shaper and a leather strop. Because I do this so frequently, I very rarely use a sharpening stone, although I have two excellent Japanese stones for this purpose.
Once the carving is finished, I go back over it very carefully to bring out the details.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Bob Armstrong

    I am a San Francisco artist who enjoys making art and  visiting art exhibits.

    Archives

    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    April 2015
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    January 2013
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Carvings
  • Carving Archives
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop