Relief Carving
Relief carving is a wood carving technique where a design is carved into a flat panel, leaving figures raised (or recessed) against a background. The effect looks like a three-dimensional picture emerging from the wood – detailed in front, flat behind. Typical projects include decorative motifs, signs, lettering, or even landscapes and portraits carved into plaques.
For beginners, relief carving is a friendly entry point into wood carving. It requires minimal tools – often just a bench knife or a few gouges – and a flat board. Many teachers recommend it as a first project because it «requires a minimum of tools and supplies to begin» yet gives very rewarding results. Beginners can practice simple designs like leaves, flowers, or block letters, learning key skills such as stop cuts and depth control while working safely on a flat surface.
At BeaverCraft, we support new carvers with tools and materials tailored to relief carving. Our Relief Carving: Completed Beginners Guide walks you through the process step by step. We provide U- and V-shaped chisels sharp and ready to use, plus basswood blanks prepped for chip and relief carving. These fine-grained panels often include printed patterns to make learning easier. With our kits and tutorials, beginners can progress from simple low-relief plaques to more complex scenes, developing accuracy and confidence as they go.
