Wood Carving

I started wood carving recently as a completely self taught hobby. I’m not a professional, and I’m very much still learning, which is part of what I enjoy about it.

I mainly work with greenwood from fallen or felled branches, turning it into spoons, bowls and other objects that are often more interesting than practical. Some are useful. Some are questionable. Most of them look better than they function…sort of.

What I enjoy most is the process. Carving has taught me patience, concentration and a greater appreciation for the structure of wood, particularly how grain, moisture, direction and species affect the way a piece behaves.

It also forces me to slow down and pay attention to small details. A few millimetres can completely change a shape, and mistakes are difficult to undo. That makes the process both frustrating and rewarding.

For me, it’s another form of sub creation. Taking something already present in the natural world and trying to reveal a new shape within it, even if that shape occasionally turns out to be a slightly impractical spoon.