The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-09-14
AN ARTISTIC NOTION.
Wood-CarvinE the Latest Fashionable Pas
iime for Ladies'.

1tme Tor lpulcs.
That various fields of labor and art
hitherto exclusively occupied by men
are being rapidly invaded by women,
is q fact that finds striking illustra-
tion in the enthusiasm with which
many ladies of leisure are turning their
attention to wood carving.
This art, in the minds of those unin-
formed upon the subject, is confounded
with the work turned out by the scroll
saw, but it is an entirely different pur.
suit and though it has engaged the at
tention of ladies in Europe for some
years, it has never until now received
consideration among fashionable women
In this country who have time to give
to the cultivation of their skill in this
direction.
Several ladies of prominent families
who have been deeply interested in
wood carving as pastime during last
winter have, since their departure for
their country seats, had work-rooms
fitted up to devote to the development
of their ambitious efforts in the carving
of articles OF utility or ornament.
Chatting with lady who has gained
remarkable proficiency in carving,
was surprised to learn with how little
expense she was able to acquire her
knowledge of an art which, while per-
mitting such satisfactory results, really
demanded so little investment of capi-
tai for tools or so few lessons to develop
a knowledge of it.
Any woman or child with taste for
carving can, by the expenditure of less
than So for an assortment of steel chisels
of four sizes varying from an eighth of
an inch in width to an inch wide, three
gouges of different sizes, a mallet, a
knife resembling shoemaker's, and a
parting tool, open broad field for the
exhibition of her abilities. Sets of light
tools, which are known as 'printcut-
ter's TOOLS" are best adapted to the
delicate hands of women, and small
handles can be bought to which these
instruments are easily fitted. Should a
person be disposed to expend $5 for a
course of half a dozen lessons such an
insight to the details of the work might
be obtained that would only require in
dustry and perseverance to turn out
good work.
There are three kinds Of wood carv-
ing-the relief, surface and incised;
and designs are easy to obtain by copy
ing nature, or reproducing designs
published in art journals, or they can
be easily drawn by any one who has a
little artistic taste or skill in devising
either floral or geometrical patterns.
With solid table or work bench placed
n strong light, the first attempt at
carving is best made upon a simple
pattern, let us say, of an oak or ivy leaf
A panel of walnut, mahogany or any
close grained wood is good selection
of material to begin upon. English oak
being harder, is less desirable for a
maiden effort. Drawing the pattern
upon the wood, the first process of
carving, known as "stabbing oNt," fol-
lows, which can be effected by employ
ing the chisel in stabbing the outline
of the leaf, or using little notched in
strument called a 'pattern wheel" !"
which turns on pressure and dents the
outline as it is pushed along, then the
cutting away should be begun, cautious
ly at first, until experience teaches the
best method of working with or against
the grain and securing accuracy in the
following of the pattern. 1t is an ex-
cellent idea to have real leaf at hand,
in order to follow nature with precision
and make the veins and fibers truthfully.
The carver should always take care
to cut thoroughly, leaving no fragments
and considering what the effect of every
stroke of the chisel is to be. Having
completed the outline, the midribs OF
the separate lobes of the leaf should be
stabbed out and the surface of the lobes
slanted down to them from side to side.
The second stage is repetition of the
first process, and the appearance OF
the leaf must be considered after the
ground has been lowered with regular
ity. Light and shade can be artistical-
ly rendered by a judicious use of the
gouges applied at different degrees Of
curvity.
The principles of carving, once ac-
quired, are easily adapted to ornament
alton, and the skillful amateur can soon
undertake more ambitious designs
n. Y. Star.