TYPES OF WOOD
There are two general types of tree; the deciduous (usually called hardwoods), and the conifers (usually known as softwoods).  

Deciduous trees are those which lose their leaves at the end of the growing season, while the conifers are usually evergreen through the winter.  Generally the wood from these two types are harder and denser for deciduous trees, or softer and less dense for the conifers.  Though there are a few exceptions, when a carver refers to a hardwood he is referring to a species that is deciduous.  

The length of the growing season and the speed at which a particular species of tree grows determines exactly how hard and dense the wood will be.  To a carver the best woods come from trees that either are from tropical climates or from species that grow relatively slowly.  

Trees native to the tropics (such as mahogany) grow year round and so their annual growth pattern varies little from season to season.  To the carver, this means the wood is usually uniform in texture throughout, except where there are knots or deformities peculiar to a particular tree.  Trees growing a slow rate of speed even in temperate climates (such as walnut) also have a uniform texture throughout.  

The species that grow a great deal faster during the growing season than in the winter tend to have a fairly noticeable difference in density and hardness between the annual ‘summer’ growth and the ‘winter’ growth.  The conifers show this to the greatest degree when looking at the annular rings in a cross-section of the trunk.  The relatively wide, light-colored rings are the summer growth, while the darker, thin rings that separate them are the winter growth.  The wide light rings are much softer than the thin dark rings.  This disparity makes it much more difficult for the carver to control the cutting tool.  

When carving a soft conifer (such as cedar) the tool cuts more quickly in the softer areas and then slows down when it hits a hard area.  It is similar to learning to drive a car with an automatic transmission with one foot on the brake at the same time you have the other foot on the accelerator.  The car goes very jerkily in fits and starts until you learn how to use just one foot.  Unfortunately for a design of any size in wood you cannot carve just the soft part or the hard part of the wood, but you must constantly cross back and forth over the boundaries between hard and soft.

Humans are good at adapting to diverse conditions, so almost all types of wood have been used for sculptural purposes.  However, if one has a choice one usually chooses the path of least resistance — so the species of trees favored for carving are therefore either from the tropics, or are trees that have a slow rate of growth so the annular rings are very close together. 

Generally, good choices for carving are going to be woods from trees that grow to be large and have little variance between summer/winter growth cycles.  Mahogany, basswood, and sugar pine are all relatively soft and uniform and are available in a larger thickness.  Walnut, poplar, and cedar are commonly used species for carving. as are harder woods such as oak, birch, cherry and maple.  The species local to the area will often be the primary factor determining the type wood to use - but that does not always mean the local species is the best choice - i.e., though it can be carved, Georgia yellow pine is not the best type of word with which to learn basic techniques.   
 

CHOOSING THE WOOD
Before you pick up a piece of wood and start to carve, there are several things you should try to determine.  Perhaps the first thing to determine is whether the wood is green (freshly cut with a high moisture content) or seasoned and dry (moisture content at equilibrium with current environment).  If the wood is green it will require using slightly different methods of working than one would use if it were dry.  But more about that aspect later.

Other factors in choosing a piece of wood would be the qualities which draw you to it — perhaps the color, the graining, or the shape and size.  By choosing a piece that is interesting, for whatever reason, will often jump-start your creative energy and make it easier to begin the carving.

Most of my own sculptures begin with an intuitive feeling.  I will have a basic idea which fits into the block, but I try to remain open to change.  As I carve, the design always changes as I get down into the heart of the form — my finished sculpture never ends up as what I thought I was going to carve when I started.  The form evolves as I begin to understand the particular piece and type wood which I am carving.  During the carving process the form becomes more clearly defined; both in material and in concept.

Let intuition help guide your selection.  Although the shape of the log or piece of lumber may suggest a certain form or idea to you, remember the wood is going to get smaller, and it certainly is going to change shape as you work on it.  Let your feelings guide you in choosing the original piece of material, but you must also use your eyes, your ears, and the touch of your hands in making the piece.


 
Class:  Carving in Wood and Stone                               all materials copyright 2008 Don Dougan
Don Dougan                                                               www.dondougan.com
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