Like any art form, wood carving requires just as much skill, experience and discipline as it does natural talent. Nobody becomes an expert wood carver overnight, just as nobody becomes an expert painter, sculptor, musician or writer overnight. They start out as beginners and learn basic skills before they begin creating anything truly great.

If you would like to learn some basic wood carving techniques, here are a few tips that will help you get started.

1. Invest in a wood carving kit.

Most arts and crafts stores will carry wood carving kits that are catered for beginners. These include general instruction books, basic carving knives and patterns for basic projects. There will most likely be different kits for whittling, carving in the round, relief carving or chip carving. Each is a different wood carving style, and each requires different techniques, so make sure you have the right kit and instruction book before you get started.

2. Find a wood carving class.

If you have a community college or adult education center near you, take a look and see if they offer any wood carving classes. These schools will have course catalogues either on site or online. If not, feel free to contact a school directly either by phone or email.

3. Take a look at wood carving websites.

There are plenty of websites that offer some beginner wood carving tips, and all it takes to find them is a quick Google search. It’s not an ideal solution since you won’t be getting hands-on instruction, but it’s still a good place to start.

Above all else, the most important part of learning any new art form is to not give up. Keep trying new things, and don’t be afraid to experiment. You may not come up with anything you like right away, but everything you do will be a new learning experience.