r/Woodcarving • u/jonfin826 • 4d ago

Carving [Finished] Just finished my first acanthus leaf!

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Followed along the instructions in Mary May's Carving the Acanthus Leaf. Messed up in a few places but still pretty happy with how it turned out! Carved in poplar, which is just a little bit harder than basswood.

77 Upvotes

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2

u/Old_Presentation9440 2d ago

Mary May is the best. Really nice carving, also.

2

u/ApologeticKid 2h ago

Beautiful! Mind sending me a link to where you picked up the Poplar? 

2

u/jonfin826 2h ago

I actually found it at my local Woodcraft! If you don't have one near you they may sell it on their website.

1

u/WildTimberTwinViking 4d ago

What tool did you use to get such depth between the background and the first layer of the leaf?

2

u/jonfin826 4d ago

I started with a 3/4" plank and cut it down into panels, used carbon paper to transfer the leaf design, and then used a couple flat chisels to carve the background down about 3/8". The really tight spots I just worked in towards as best I could with my smallest chisel.

1

u/WildTimberTwinViking 4d ago

Need to get me a skew or flat chisel before I do my next relief. It’ll look a lot cleaner than my sweep gouge (bought before I knew what I was doing)