Organic art takes many forms, including wood carving. Wood sculpture carvings bring a lot of variety to organic art with its different techniques, styles, and uses. You can use wood carvings as standalone artwork, furniture details, and collectibles. Below are several ways artists create sculptures and art using wood. 

4 Wood Sculpture Carving Techniques 

1. Relief Carving

Relief carving is an artistic way to create a dramatic image on a wooden panel. It gives the flat wood a stunning 3D effect using tools like carving knives and gouges. The artist creates the image by drawing a detailed and layered picture on the panel and carving away layers of wood to achieve the perfect depth and shadow. Relief carvings are time-consuming because of their intricate details. 

2. Whittling

Whittling is one of the most common forms of wood carving. It's a traditional practice that uses non-motorized tools like chisels and hammers to create beauty from a piece of lumber. Wood sculptures made from whittling are 100% human-made due to the lack of electrical implements. It's common for whittled organic art to have imperfections, but it adds to the piece's beauty. 

3. Treen Carving

This wood carving technique is mainly for making household items from a bit of wood. For example, a woodworker might use treen carving to make wooden goblets, spoons, pipes, and baskets. Though treen wood carvings are beautiful, they are more functional than artistic. 

4. Chip Carving

Like relief carving, chip carving is done on a flat wooden panel. The woodworker creates an image or design by chipping away at the wood's surface. Though the panel's dimensions will change around the artwork, the wood's overall dimensions aren't altered.

Chip carving stands out from other wood sculpturing techniques because artists use geometric patterns to create the design on surfaces like wooden chair legs and boxes. To make the art, the woodworker only needs a few carving tools, including a stab knife and a short-bladed carving knife. 

Organic art from Hank Waddell Studio in Liberty Hill, TX, is a fantastic way to decorate your home with entirely unique original works. Hank Waddell has years of experience creating custom furniture and one-of-a-kind woodwork using various techniques that will look stunning in any home. From bamboo wall art to cedar and mesquite sculptural furniture, all of this designer's pieces serve as functional art. Browse his collection online, or call (512) 426-4024 to request a commission.