Here are some tips to learn wood carving:
1. Get the right tools and materials. You'll need a set of wood carving knives, gouges, mallets, and sharpening stones. Obtain some wood boards or blocks suitable for carving practice. Basswood and pine are good softwood options for beginners.
2. Learn basic carving cuts and techniques. Practice making cuts like stopped cuts, shear cuts, scoops, etc. Start with straight-line cuts before moving on to curves. Master sharpening your tools.
3. Study shapes and forms. Learn how different cuts and angles can be combined to carve basic 3D shapes like balls, cylinders, cubes, etc. Practice carving simple shapes like cups, bowls, boxes, etc.
4. Practice carving textures. Work on achieving different textures by varying the depth and width of your cuts. Try smooth, rough, curved and straight textures.
5. Learn some carving patterns and relief carving. Practice carving repetitive patterns and then carving shapes in different planes to create depth and texture.
6. Study examples from expert wood carvers. You can find many tutorials and how-to articles as well as video lessons from experienced wood carvers. Try to replicate some of their carvings.
7. Practice a lot. The key to mastering wood carving is really practicing consistently. Even practicing for just an hour a day can help you improve your skills gradually over time. Be patient and keep at it.
8. Consider taking a wood carving course. Whether in-person or online, instruction from an experienced carver is one of the best ways to learn wood carving techniques thoroughly. You can get hands-on guidance and tips.
9. Continue challenging yourself. Once you get the basics down, try carving more complex shapes, larger carvings, carving walking sticks or other objects. Experiment with different types of wood as well. Regular practice will make you a great wood carver!
Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help you learn and improve your wood carving skills.