If you are a beginner who likes hand carving, facing some complex and detailed projects may make you feel overwhelmed. In this case, why not start with simple shapes? Carving a simple Pokémon may be a good choice. Next in this article, we will take you step by step to understand the process of hand carving Pokémon. Don’t worry – I will make things simple and fun!

Prepare What You Need

Even the best cook can’t make a meal without ingredients. So prepare the following materials and tools before starting the project:

Carving Material:

Basswood is the best carving material for beginners because it is soft and takes less effort to carve. So we choose a piece of basswood that is the right size and has no impurities.

Carving Tools

The carving tools for wood carving are relatively simple, unlike metal engraving that requires power engraving tool. You only need to prepare these:：

• Whittling Knives: A basic carving knife is a must-have.
• Gouges and Chisels: Useful for larger areas and more detailed work.
• Detailing Tools: Small gouges or precision knives for the fine details.
• Sandpaper: Medium and fine grit for smoothing out your creation.

Other Supplies

• Pencil or Marker for sketching.
• Reference Images: Find a good image of the Pokémon you want to carve. This is your guide for shaping.
• Paint and Brushes (optional): If you want to paint your Pokémon once it’s carved.
• Safety Gear: Always use carving gloves and protective glasses to avoid any accidents.

Now that we’ve got everything we need, let’s jump into the process!

Step 1: Choose Your Pokémon

Choosing the right Pokémon is key to making this project fun and doable. For beginners, I’d recommend starting with simpler Pokémon that have basic shapes. Here are a few suggestions:

• Pikachu: Round body, simple face, and distinct features (ears, cheeks, and tail).
• Jigglypuff: Almost a perfect sphere, easy to carve, with a simple curl on its head.
• Bulbasaur: A simple body with a plant bulb on its back.
• Squirtle: Round and turtle-like, with a shell and tail.

Step 2: Sketch Your Pokémon

Let me take Squirtle as an example. Choose a good reference image of a Squirtle. This will help you get the proportions and details right when you sculpt. A Squirtle has a simple but unique shape: a round body, a shell, a tail, and small details like eyes, arms, and legs. I recommend using an image of a Squirtle facing forward, as this will allow you to clearly see its features.

Next, grab your pencil and sketch the outline of Squirtle onto your block of wood or chosen carving material. Don’t worry about making it perfect right away—this is just your guide.

• Basic Shape: Start with the basic, rounded shape of Squirtle’s body. The body is essentially a round shape, but with a slight downward curve at the bottom.
• Shell and Tail: Draw the shell on Squirtle’s back, making sure it’s a little larger than the body, and sketch the tail at the back, which curves upward.
• Arms and Legs: Add simple ovals for the arms and legs on the sides of the body.

Remember, the better you draw, the better your carving will be. There is a popular saying in wood carving: A good carver is also a good painter.

Step 3: Roughly Shape Squirtle’s Body

Begin by removing the excess material to shape Squirtle’s overall form. This is where the bulk of the carving will happen, so work carefully.

• Carve Away from Yourself: Always carve away from your body to avoid injury.
• Focus on the Body: Using your whittling knife, begin carving the rough shape of Squirtle’s body. Squirtle’s body is mostly round, but it slightly flattens at the bottom where it rests.
• Shape the Shell: The shell is a defining feature of Squirtle, so give it a good round shape on top of the body. You can use a gouge to hollow out the shell a little, giving it some depth.
• Refine the Tail: Squirtle’s tail is curled upward in a circular shape. Use a small chisel or knife to carve the tail’s curl and add depth.

Step 4: Carve the Features

Once you’ve got the basic shape, it’s time to carve out Squirtle’s distinct features: the head, arms, legs, and facial details.

• Head and Face: Squirtle has a cute, round face with large eyes. Use your smaller detail tools to carve out the eyes and mouth. Squirtle’s eyes should be circular, with a slight curve to the top, giving it a friendly, playful look. You can also carve small lines above the eyes to hint at its eyebrows.
• Arms and Legs: Squirtle’s limbs are short and stubby. Using a small gouge, carve out the arms and legs. Don’t forget to add small fingers and toes by making tiny cuts on the end of each limb.
• Shell Texture: The shell has a slight texture to it. Use your detail tools to add a few lines or marks on the shell to make it look more realistic. You can even add a little ring texture around the shell’s edge to give it more depth.

Step 5: Sand and Smooth

Now that the main features are carved, it’s time to smooth everything out. This step will give your Squirtle a polished, finished look.

• Sand the Body: Use medium-grit sandpaper to smooth out rough spots on the body. Move in small circles to avoid sanding too much in one area. After that, use fine-grit sandpaper for a smoother finish.
• Refine the Details: Go over the carved features, like the shell and face, with finer sandpaper to smooth out the small details without losing their definition.
• Check for Imperfections: Take a moment to run your hands over your carving and look closely at the details. If any areas feel rough, smooth them out with sandpaper.

Step 6: Paint Your Squirtle (Optional)

If you want to add color to your Squirtle carving, now’s the time to paint it!

• Base Colors: Start by painting the body a light blue color, as that’s Squirtle’s signature look. The shell should be brown with a lighter beige underside.
• Details: Use a small brush to paint the eyes white with black pupils. You can add a hint of pink to the cheeks or paint the inner parts of the arms and legs a soft yellow color, depending on your reference.
• Finishing Touches: Once the paint is dry, you can add any other details, like shading or highlights, to bring your Squirtle carving to life.

Congratulations, you have just completed an awesome Squirtle wood carving project. The carving process can be tricky, especially with the small details. Take your time and try to avoid mistakes.