Body language

Turn a scrap piece of wood into a work of art. Mark Rayner shows us how.

You will need:

Small log of wood for sculpture
Log of wood for base plinth
Wooden wedges for support
Small chainsaw, chisel, wooden mallet, nails or clamps
Builders’ construction adhesive
Belt sander with coarse and medium sanding belts and sandpaper for finishing
Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene Cherrywood.

Top tips: The finished piece should be a suggestion of a torso form rather than an accurate anatomical model. Experiment with coloured wood stains or paints for a different effect or use an interior stain with polyurethane varnish if the artwork is to be kept indoors.

Step 1 Step one
Select a piece of wood that suggests the form of a torso. Attach to a firm base with nails or clamps.

Step 2 Step two
With a chisel and wooden mallet, carefully remove some of the outer bark to reveal the wooden form beneath.

Step 3 Step three
With a chainsaw, carefully remove any unwanted knots, lumps or small branch stumps.

Step 4 Step four
Continue to remove the bark with the chisel and mallet and begin to carve the wood to create the final form.

Step 5 Step five
Continue carving, always following the direction of the grain.

Step 6 Step six
Lightly sand using the belt sander, first with a coarse grade sanding belt, then with a medium grade.

Step 7 Step seven
Attach two wedges of wood to the top of the base plinth with exterior construction adhesive – these will ensure the finished sculpture stands upright. Allow to dry.

Step 8 Step eight
Finish off with an application of Resene Woodsman wood stain in Resene Cherrywood, rubbing off across upper arms and chest to create highlights. Attach finished piece to the plinth with construction glue and a large galvanised nail.

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Resene Paints (Australia) Limited – www.resene.com