How to create a piece of art!

by Marc Aaron Senoner

It all starts with a sketch or a drawing of what you would like to carve…

The more detailed the drawing, the easier it will be for the next stages such as the modelling and the actual carving…

You can even add colour to your sketch or drawing to give you a better impression of what the final work should look like..

The modelling in clay as you can see on this Virgin of Mary is very detailed and takes years of practise to master…

The figures in this this modelling called “spooning” are less detailed and easier to form…

Once you are done with modelling, you can start choosing your best wood and glue it together approximately in the shape of the your final sculpture in order to waste as

little wood as possible…

You use the chainsaw to cut out the rough form of your figure as well as to speed the process up a little...

After you are done with the chainsaw, you start using the chisel and the hammer, while the wood is slowly taking form…

You can even carve a little model in wood first, if you prefer, but that takes a lot more time and is the harder option…

Now you work on all the details and that is where your true skills come in. Little hint: start with the tricky parts and work your way down..

Once the carving is complete you cover the statue with a coat of paint, to prevent the absorption of the colours, this is called priming. You can add some gold if you want with a technique called gilding. You can either apply leaf gold or powder gold. Hint: leaf gold is way better and shinier.

Now you are ready to start with the real painting of the statue and play with different colours. You can apply different layers and it is no big deal if you get it wrong a few

times…

The statue is almost ready! All what is left to do is apply some varnish. If you want to safe the environment and want the artwork to last for a lifetime do it our way. Use an agate stone and rub

it on the colour. But be prepared since it is very tricky and exhausting!

Your masterpiece is finally ready and you can show it to the world! Whether it is a naked woman in a gallery or in someone’s home….

Or one of a kind modern crucifix that is hanging in a Church or on your kitchen wall!