[Woodcarver] Teaching Children to Carve?

[Robin Edward Trudel]

I've written an article for Carving Magazine that deals with
teaching children of this age.  I don't remember the exact
issue, but I'm sure it would be a big help.


--- Classic Carving Patterns <irish at carvingpatterns.com> wrote:

> To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular
> mail, click this link:
> http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
> 
> Good Morning Everyone!
> 
> I had an interesting question in the e-mails this morning
> concerning a
> young person (8 years old) wanting to learn wood carving.  Now
> I have
> never taught children!  So I thought I would post both the
> question and
> my reply for feedback from those of you on the digest that do
> teach
> kids.  Any ideas or suggestions would be fantastic.  If you
> know of any
> WebPages that focus on young carvers, tools sets for young
> carvers,
> books or instructions for young carvers, safety issues (for
> any carver
> at any age) ... would you please share them with us.
> 
> Oh ... Please, this question is about an inexpensive holiday
> gift that
> probably will end up is some shoe box or kitchen drawer in a
> few weeks
> ... At least that is what would happen with my son at that age
> ... So
> let's not get into $50 tools sets versus $50 individual tools
> - you
> should always buy the best -  sort of thing :)  The focus of
> my question
> to you is Teaching Children to Carve.
> 
> Thanks, Susan Irish
> 
> --- The Question ---
> 
> Wow!  There is just so much information on carving!  I am a
> mother of an
> 8 yr. old who is interested in beginning carving.  I was
> hoping you
> could answer a few of my question?  What is a good age to
> start carving?
> What are some basic items needed to get started?  I read about
> 4 of the
> most basic tools....how about a good book you can recommend
> for the
> beginner?  Where do I get the wood?  And so many different
> types of
> wood!  It is something she is asking Santa for and I have no
> idea where
> to start shopping or looking...so hopefully you can help!
> Thanks!
> A Frazzled Mom
> 
> 
> --- My Answer ---
> 
> 
> Hi Frazzled Mom!
>  
> I really can't suggest what age is good to start carving as I
> believe it
> would depend on the muscle control development, the size of
> the child's
> hands, and their hand and eye coordination.  So I think that
> you are the
> one that will have to judge this.  I would suggest for any
> child that
> you get them either a carving glove which covers the wood
> holding hand
> or an extra thick Terri cloth hand towel to protect that same
> hand.
> Personally I use a towel both, doubled over, for the holding
> hand as
> well as for my lap to catch the wood chips.  A vice, which is
> used in
> 3-D carving, is great to hold the wood and will keep her hands
> away from
> the knife edge.  For relief carving, flat carving, you will
> want bench
> claps or spring clamps to secure the wood plague to the work
> table.
> Clamps will be available at your local hardware store, just
> tell them
> what your daughter will be doing and what type of surface she
> will be
> working on ... a table top, a small square of plywood for her
> lap ... 
>  
> The greatest danger in wood carving is to the holding hand. 
> That's the
> one that gets 'stabbed' because the knife slips on the wood
> and gets
> imbedded in the thumb or index finger palm area of the holding
> hand.
> So, please, be prepared because even the most experienced
> carvers
> inadvertently stabs themselves once in a while!
>  
> First, I would browse the web for the wood carving badge
> instruction
> pages for the Boy Scouts.  They have a lot of great
> suggestions for
> young carvers both in what to carve as well as how to carve. 
> Basswood
> and balsa wood are both excellent soft woods for a young
> carver to try
> and are readily available at most hobby stores. Basswood is
> the best of
> the two as balsa requires extremely sharp edged tools.
> Learning to keep
> the tools properly sharpened is one of the hardest lessons for
> the new
> carver.  Avoid any form of hard wood as maple, walnut, or pine
> and don't
> use scraps of wood that are laying around the workshop or
> house.  
>  
> Ivory soap has long been a carving media for a beginning
> carver as well.
> Soap carves much the same as the softer woods, is easy to
> find, and
> makes wonderful gifts for the family when the carver has
> transformed
> them into different delightful shapes. It's a great learning
> media then
> the new carver can move onto the wood forms.  Linoleum blocks
> that are
> used in print making also make a wonderful media for a new
> carver.  They
> require only a simple line design carving then ink is rolled
> on top of
> the block to print greeting cards.  So you get two hobbies out
> of one
> work.  www.dickblick.com sells linoleum blocks and ink.
> 
> I would add plasticine clay to the new carver's media as well.
>  This is
> a plastic clay that never dries out.  So you can work on a
> sculpture
> today, set it aside for a week, and return to it and begin
> work again.
> With plasticine once the carving is done a cast is made and
> plaster used
> to cast copies of the original work.  This means that you can
> make one
> carving, create a cast (which is a lot of fun to do in itself)
> then make
> a whole bunch of statues from that cast.  Plasticine is also
> available
> through Dick Blick.
>  
> Personally I would get a basic bench knife and a set of
> Japanese Long
> Handle carving tools.  This would give her all the different
> carving
> profiles that she needs while keeping the cost down until you
> and she
> discover if this is something that she will want to continue.
> Plus there
> would be enough tools that both of you could carve at the same
> time,
> sharing the tool set.  I would highly suggest that you plan to
> carve
> with her.  First, of course, is the concerns for her safety so
> you will
> want to be present as she learns her new hobby.  Second, and
> maybe even
> more important, it can become something the two of you share
> in both
> time and interest which will greatly increase her joy in the
> craft.
>  
> Instead of a book I would suggest going through our website
> and reading
> some of the online tutorials we have.  Our books are gears to
> an older
> carver but you might try www.foxchapelpublishing.com for other
> book
> ideas.  They are my publisher and print about 600 different
> titles.
> 
> ---
> 
> Thanks everyone!  Susan Irish
> 
> Carving Patterns Online
> Designs Online Since 1997!
> Classic Carving Patterns By L.S.Irish
> http://www.CarvingPatterns.com
> http://www.WoodCarvingPatterns.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Woodcarver mailing list
> Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
> 
=== message truncated ===


=====
À votre service, 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
Robin Edward Trudel 
World Class consulting from a qualified professional 
http://www.teamtrudel.com/ 
-----------------------------------------------------------