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50 Times Talented People Took Woodworking To Another Level And Shared Their Projects Online
Interview
Quality woodworking has a way of seeming almost fantastical, like an object of art piece straight out of a fantasy movie. But despite the art form’s age, there are still creative people out there, chiseling, sawing, and sanding wood for our benefit.
This internet group gathers the most interesting, creative, and downright impressive examples of woodworking. We also got in touch with craftsman George Dirk Britz from Britz Knives, to learn a bit more about creative work. So get comfortable as you scroll through, be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your thoughts below.
More info: Instagram | Britz Knives
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Driftwood Rhino
Felicia Jones 2 years ago (edited)
Artist is Joe Treat, in Bow, Wa. He is very talented. https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/jaw-dropping-driftwood-sculptures-are-stopping-traffic-in-bow/281-668c77aa-69ee-4ddd-befe-09b934b1a4dd
RELATED:
#2
Carved A Rope And Knot From Basswood
Shelly Graham 2 years ago
I thought initially someone posted this incorrectly, until I looked closer! Wow, that takes a lot of talent! Beautiful job!
Bored Panda got in touch with knife-smith George Dirk Britz from Britz Knives to learn more about being a craftsperson and he was kind enough to share about his profession and experience.
“I'm an artist by nature, and also draw, paint, and sculpt. Always been a knife and weapons nerd, so it just sort of came naturally to want to make knives. Learning the craft of bladesmithing/knife making, YouTube videos, and trial and error. There was an old knife maker near me, so I worked out of his workshop for a while and learned a good few things from him as well.”
#3
I Carved A Kiwi, His Name Is Fred And He Dreams Of Flying (Walnut And Maple)
WindySwede 2 years ago
Oh no, not the flying Kiwi 🙁 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUUx5FdySs
Jihana 2 years ago
Oh no, ohnonononono! Is the video I think it is? I barely recovered from that trauma, I'm not watching that again!
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#4
Octopus In Juniper, Hand Carved By My Self
#5
Deer Tree
Brian Droste 2 years ago
I love how it is carved directly from he tree. If I did that I think I would have trimmed some of the smaller twigs off.
Jane Thorne 2 years ago
I have a willow that has a stump protrusion like that. I have been inspired! Love it!
So we wanted to hear him talk about his process a bit. “What I found best for me is to figure out your own ways of doing things, as long as it's good practice and still produces great knives. I do research daily basically. It never stops. I'll get an idea of what I want to make, or in some cases the client wants, draw up the design, and then figure out ways to make it.”
#6
Baby Turtle Emerging From Its Egg. Hand Carved By Me, In Boxwood And Horn Eyes. Hope You Like It, Happy New Year To Everyone Particularly The Loyal Followers! Happy Carving!
That One Cat 2 years ago
it’s so cute!! i’d absolutely buy this! you should consider starting an Etsy shop if you’d like!
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Awwwww, what a cutie pie. I always liked turtles.
Lisa Mcgee 2 years ago
That is amazing. Just totally amazing and you can carve anything for me anytime!!!!
#7
Grandpa's Cabin Carving Is All Done!
#8
"The Squeeze" Oak, Me, 2020 The Piece That Doesn't Come To Life Till Its Squeezed
Steven Clemes 2 years ago
Absolutely incredible! Looks like a bad made chicken. But pick it up it's a part of your hand
Many of the creations here and on George’s Instagram look deeply complicated, the culmination of years of learning, practice, and experimentation. Indeed, many of us hardly make anything physical anymore besides dinner, so the task seems daunting. So we wanted to know how one would even go about starting. “You can basically make a knife with a hand file, hammer, and fire, lol.”
#9
Black Walnut Joiners Mallet. I Had Been Getting Into Carving, And I Needed A Heavy Mallet For Carving And Mortises. And Then I Found Out About A Maker's Challenge. And I Had Recently Become Slightly Obsessed With Old English And Scottish Tools. This Guy Was Born
Janet Howe 2 years ago
This is too beautiful. How could anyone actually use this as a tool after the intricate carving? This should be a judge's gavel or something.
#10
Just Finished My Shakespeare Bench! The Client Is Deciding On The Titles To Go On The Book Spines
#11
Otter In Butternut
2econdSelf 2 years ago
I love “Otter in Butternut.” Sounds like the title of a whimsical children’s book about a cute, but lost little otter in a strange new town.
“The minimum to get started I would say is to have a 2 x 72 belt grinder (there are smaller ones but I don't think it's worth it), a bench drill, and then a way to heat treat your blade, like an electric kiln, gas forge or even a coal forge. Proper heat treatment is one of the most important things in this business. Each steel is a little different so a lot of research and also trial and error goes into it,” He shared with Bored Panda.
#12
Just Finished This Basswood And Walnut Piranha Plant Carving
Brian Droste 2 years ago (edited)
This reminds of one of the snapping plants in Mario Brothers. Can't recall what that are called.
#13
T-Rex Skull From Butternut And Walnut
#14
Final Result Of My Last Project
Nancy Doughty 2 years ago
Hope "last project" means most recent and not that you're not carving anymore. Too talented to quit!
Lastly, he left us with some other tips about how to get into knifemaking, if that suits your fancy. “There are many bladesmiths that have open anvil/forge days where people can go there and try it out for the first time or, to keep learning more and improve their skills. Probably a good place to start.” You can find more of George’s creations on his Instagram page.
#15
From Cottonwood Bark Chunks To The Finished Carvings - My Latest Whimsical Houses
#16
Whittled A Baby Dinosaur
#17
Pls Rate C: First Time On Reddit. Carved This Deer A Couple Of Months Ago
Humans have been carving pieces of wood for over ten thousand years, as the oldest wooden sculpture that has been found is thought to have been made around twelve thousand years ago. Called the Shigir Idol or Shigir Sculpture, it depicts a face atop a long, wooden pole. Researchers believe that stone tools were used to fell the tree and carve out this ritual object.
#18
I Hand Carved This Ebony Gorilla With Amber Eyes And Boxwood Bananas
Louby Of Morrowind 2 years ago
This I would buy, I need the poster's instagram to follow. I love his little face
#19
Small Carved Wooden Animals
#20
Polarbear In Ash - First Carving That's Not A Spoon
Steven Peeters 2 years ago
looks like a brown, bear to me, not sure where you get the polar part :D
While the annual rings from the tree (a larch) are still visible on the Idol, those ancient humans did take the time to carve out “ribs” and facial features to designate that this represents a human or humanoid figure. Some anthropologists note that the arrangement of the idol is similar to Native American totem poles.
#21
The Mandalorian. Mudhorn Skull. Wood Carving
#22
Betta Fish
Catharina Geerts 2 years ago
I once had such a Betta fish. This piece would make a wonderful wall decoration!
#23
Trying To Take Pride In Something For A Change: 130 Unique, Handcarved Pieces In No Particular Order; 8 Months Part-Time, 2 Months Full-Time, 2 Significant Injuries And A Whole Lot Of Deprastination
Satan Laughs 2 years ago
Oh I love all of them! I can relate the the deprastination. The 8-pointed star on the left is my favorite. I’m sure all us Pandas will find a favorite one.
On a whim 2 years ago
The Celtic knot ring 5 steps to the right for me… also love the key in the bottom left ;)
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Upstaged75 2 years ago
Deprastination is a brilliant term for the lack of progress that comes with depression. I often say it's like being mentally paralyzed.
No One 2 years ago (edited)
Dear lord, now that I know the word, I fear it may become common to describe myself.
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Joyce Plaate 2 years ago (edited)
Amazing. I so wish to be able to touch all of them and feel them in my hands.
Catharina Geerts 2 years ago
They are all so beautiful! Love the fine details in even the smallest pieces.
In general, woodworking is among the oldest of human “hobbies” although we have to assume much of it was practical. Nevertheless, items like the Shigir Idol do indicate that some early humans took time out of their day to make something without a tangible benefit. This means that the artistic spirit that many of the creators in this list possess is a time-honored human tradition.
#24
I'm Making A Valkyrie Bass
dremetrius 2 years ago
I'm sure the intention is to finish painting the other half but I LOVE the half-finished look. Like an instrument that's eternally caught in the middle of forming itself from nothing.
#25
Hello! I Am A Beginner Woodcarver Exploring The Wonderful World Of Reddit. Here's One Of My Newest In-Progress Pieces To Prove Myself :d
#26
Carved A Small Handful Of Desert Rain Frogs Out Of Maple, White Oak, And Black Walnut! Love These Chunky Little Guys! Hope Y'all Do Too!
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
The council is about to be pounced by a certain kitten....
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Our ancestors were often a lot more creative than we might give them credit for. Unfortunately, wood is a lot harder to preserve than metal or stone, meaning that a lot of early woodwork is irreversibly lost. Nevertheless, archeologists have found everything from coffins to folding chairs, all made in pre-metal cultures. Many existing examples are from ancient Egypt, where wooden creations would be preserved in tombs.
#27
I Am Newbie To Just About Everything With That Being Reddit, "Art", Carving, And Just Life In General😝. Here Is The Latest Piece I've Made... It Is Inspired By Salvador Dali's "Persistence Of Memory"
#28
Mother Bear And The Plump Rabbit
#29
I Carved A Tiny Backpack For My Backpack
So if you are feeling inspired, perhaps look into a class or just get a knife, some wood and start whittling. If you truly do hate it, you’ll find out pretty quickly, but you may also discover that you actually love it. And if you are in the mood for more woodworking creations, Bored Panda has got you covered, check out our other article on creative woodworking designs.
#30
Sun Flower
dremetrius 2 years ago
I know it's a sunflower, but I immediately heard "out of bed, you daisy-head!" when I saw it.
Ashley Shelton 2 years ago
And I thought bed post so must have a bed vibe for some reason lol I love it it's so cute
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LJ Robinson 2 years ago
Isn't this the sun, floating above the clouds, then the earth? I don't see a sunflower at all.
#31
Rattlesnake, Hand Carved In Boxwood, Horn Eyes And Rattle, And Silver Tongue
#32
Little Bull
KittyMommy 2 years ago
I have several carvings like this, I love how just a few simple lines suggest the whole animal
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I don't know. There's a little bull going on here.
Shankshaw Redeemer 2 years ago
Did the person not have a better surface to place the bull other than his or her leg??
#33
Just A Shark In Sandals
#34
Bald Eagle, Northern White Cedar
Patricia Smith 2 years ago
You've captured that regal, majestic look that few have mastered. He's simply beautiful!
Matt Campbell 2 years ago
I'm so hungry I thought that caption said "Bald Eagle, Northern White Cheddar" .......
Malcom Berry 2 years ago
All the carving are brilliant but I cannot decide between this and the bison ,keep up this amazing work
#35
The Covid Devil. Carved With Power Tools, Finished With Hand Tools, Torched Lightly, Oiled. Oc Covid Summer Project, Off And On Since July
#36
Spooky Carves
#37
Little Turtle
#38
Do You Think That It's Good Work?
#39
Not The Best Photos, But I Have Just About Finished The Carving On This Curly Walnut Bison. One Piece, 30 Knives And Gouges, ~100 Hours, Two Sore Hands
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
He's got a wee bit of attitude, but who can blame him? If I could ram things to death, I'd have attitude, too.
#40
Manta Ray From Recycled Timber ⚒️♻️⚡️ @seedtosawdust
Patricia Smith 2 years ago
Is it hard to carve recycled wood, I wonder? No matter. It's beautiful.
#41
Carved A Tiger
David 2 years ago
haha - that was my first thought - "kind of looks like it would look great on a merry go round."
Load More Replies... Patricia Smith 2 years ago
That's unbelievable! The carving is tremendous. The paint is so amazing. I hope that it's a commissioned piece because it needs to be seen and seen again.
#42
Carved This Miniature Antler Out Of Rosewood
Ann M Clinkscales 2 years ago
That must have been so hard with the possibility of it breaking. Nice job!
#43
My First Whittling Project, A Whale Shark!
#44
Wally The Walrus
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
I absolutely adore their work, but I followed to the etsy page and can't bring myself to pay 80$ for one of these, so I'll just admire this picture instead.
#45
I Messed Up His Hat, So I Turned Him In To A Biker Santa 🎅
Shaunn Munn 2 years ago
Actually looks like Santa "in (his) cap, for a long winter's nap". Mrs. Claus is wearing her kerchief.
#46
First Experiment With Charring
A C 2 years ago (edited)
Sorry did BP just censor w***y?! (Edit bc spelling is hard)
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#47
A Dwarf Carved From Basswood And Walnut - Carved By Me
PlatinumThe8-BitCat 2 years ago
I name him Bruenor (no one’s going to understand that reference)
John Inman 2 years ago
I absolutely loved the Eragon series. Still have all 4 books in hardback. The movie could have been so much better.
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Fairly New To Carving, My Three First Projects From Left To Right. Hope Sanding Isn't Blasphemous
Gary Geracci 2 years ago
Sanding is a blessing. I sand All my Art Neauvau Life sized Hummingbirds, and let the oiled wood feather them.Sanding gives purpose-Sometime-You da judge!
Brian Droste 2 years ago
I like these better smooth than some of the other ones that are not smooth.
#49
Update On My Dremel Carving
Janet Howe 2 years ago
There's got to be hundreds of guitar players who would buy that when it's finished. Awesome.
KittyMommy 2 years ago
Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine. Never understood a single word he said, but I helped him a drink his wine, and he always had some mighty fine wine🎶
#50
It’s A Waffle! 🧇
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What do you think ?
On a whim 2 years ago
I wood look at another list like this anytime. Nice way to spruce up a bored minute, Sm-ash-ing talent on show. Lovely post, I was lathe to finish it.
Julie moreau quilliou 2 years ago
I loved this post. People are wonderfully creative and skilled
María Hermida 2 years ago
Some people are skilled. I'm as uncoordinated as a drunk orangutan.
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She who must not be named 2 years ago
I love the fact there's wonderfully detailed projects, and cute little figures in the same post. Both equally as amazing and artistic. I want them all!
On a whim 2 years ago
I wood look at another list like this anytime. Nice way to spruce up a bored minute, Sm-ash-ing talent on show. Lovely post, I was lathe to finish it.
Julie moreau quilliou 2 years ago
I loved this post. People are wonderfully creative and skilled
María Hermida 2 years ago
Some people are skilled. I'm as uncoordinated as a drunk orangutan.
Load More Replies... She who must not be named 2 years ago
I love the fact there's wonderfully detailed projects, and cute little figures in the same post. Both equally as amazing and artistic. I want them all!
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