The Surprising Simplicity Behind Bold, Expressive Caricatures in Wood | Rod Gatlin

Tiny carvings. Incredible detail. Carver Sean Syman joins The Modern Woodcarver Podcast to explore the art of netsuke and his approach to carving wood, bone, and antler. In this episode, host Michael Gurrado talks with Sean about his creative journey—from early Pokémon carvings and guitar-making scraps to intricate, netsuke-inspired animal figures. Sean shares how moving from New Zealand to Canada helped spark his interest in carving, how his choice of materials has evolved, and why strong form matters long before the finishing details. We discuss: • Carving basswood, mahogany, walnut, and boxwood—and how working with bone and antler differs • The tiny tools behind his detailed work, including a micromotor, gravers, scrapers, and custom tools • His interest in combining animals with everyday objects such as teacups, books, barrels, and boats • Using center lines, proportion checks, and negative space to develop a stronger carving • The patience behind pieces that can take 100 hours to complete • What draws him to netsuke and how the carving community has helped shape his work Whether you enjoy woodcarving, miniature sculpture, animal carving, or experimenting with different materials, Sean offers a thoughtful look at the decisions behind every small piece. What’s the smallest carving you’ve ever made? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to The Modern Woodcarver for more conversations with the people behind the craft. TOOLS & SUPPLIES — AFFILIATE LINKS As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links supports The Modern Woodcarver at no additional cost to you. Thank you! Flexcut Carvin’ Jack 2.0: https://amzn.to/4eFL872 Finger Tape Variety Pack: https://amzn.to/3QYlWPm BeaverCraft Leather Strop: https://amzn.to/4tYz0mg Pfeil Palm Carving Tools — 6-Piece Set: https://amzn.to/4dcoQJ3 FolkArt Matte Acrylic Paint Set: https://amzn.to/4eFM0IQ STAEDTLER Mars Technico Mechanical Pencil: https://amzn.to/3SkLqqA Replacement Pencil Lead: https://amzn.to/43eWuba Pencil Sharpener: https://amzn.to/4e1arym Gravity Timer: https://amzn.to/4dLGp2M FOLLOW & SUPPORT All Gurrado Woodworks and Modern Woodcarver links: [INSERT FULL LINKTREE URL] Support The Modern Woodcarver on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themodernwoodcarver #Woodcarving #Netsuke #TheModernWoodcarver

Woodcarving doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode of The Modern Woodcarver Podcast, Michael Gurrado sits down with Aaron Neumayer of Flame and Steel Woodworks to talk about simple tools, approachable projects, and finding your own carving style. Aaron shares how his journey began with a soap carving in Cub Scouts and grew into a passion for creating whimsical gnomes, pumpkins, Santas, and characters with ridiculous hats. From whittling in the back of his truck to sharing tutorials on YouTube, his approach centers on making carving feel fun and achievable. We discuss pocket knives versus dedicated carving knives, keeping tools sharp, and how paint, wood burning, and texture bring a simple carving to life. We also compare craft show experiences, including what sells, batch painting, ornaments, and how too many choices can overwhelm customers. Whether you’re picking up a knife for the first time or looking for fresh inspiration, join us for a conversation about keeping woodcarving simple and enjoying the process. FOLLOW AARON — FLAME AND STEEL WOODWORKS Instagram: @flame_and_steel_woodworks YouTube: @flameandsteelwoodworks TikTok: @flame.steel Webstore: flame-and-steel-woodworks.square.site TOOLS I USE — AFFILIATE LINKS Flexcut Carvin’ Jack 2.0: https://amzn.to/4eFL872 Finger Tape Variety Pack: https://amzn.to/3QYlWPm BeaverCraft Leather Strop: https://amzn.to/4tYz0mg Pfeil Palm Carving Tools — 6-Piece Set: https://amzn.to/4dcoQJ3 FolkArt Matte Acrylic Paint Set: https://amzn.to/4eFM0IQ STAEDTLER Mars Technico Mechanical Pencil: https://amzn.to/3SkLqqA Replacement Pencil Lead: https://amzn.to/43eWuba Pencil Sharpener: https://amzn.to/4e1arym Gravity Timer: https://amzn.to/4dLGp2M As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links supports The Modern Woodcarver at no additional cost to you. Thank you! FOLLOW & SUPPORT All Gurrado Woodworks and Modern Woodcarver links: https://linktr.ee/gurradowoodworks Support The Modern Woodcarver on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheModernWoodcarver

From whittling around campfires as a park ranger to carving 60–70 pieces a year, Ryan Newsome shares how practice, experimentation, and community have shaped his woodcarving journey. In this episode of The Modern Woodcarver Podcast, Michael Gurrado talks with Ryan about caricature carving, finding tools that fit your hand, and learning to take risks with bolder cuts. Ryan also explains how he uses AI to turn ideas into carving references while keeping the carving process hands-on. We discuss: Why Ryan enjoys the creative freedom of caricature carving

How does a street performer in Scotland find his way to woodcarving? In this episode of The Modern Woodcarver, I talk with Rick Giujussa of Scarecrow Woodcrafts about the winter that introduced him to carving and the creative path that followed. Rick shares what draws him to Scandinavian flat-plane carving, how working with a knife and a block of wood helps him slow down, and why having too many creative options can make it harder to focus. We also talk about spoon carving, relief work, miniature scenes, and the challenge of balancing creative work with multiple jobs. Our conversation moves beyond the workshop, too. Rick discusses bringing carving into community spaces, including craft nights and youth support work, and what making things by hand has meant for his own well-being. If you carve, make things, or feel pulled in a dozen directions by what you see online, I think you’ll connect with Rick’s story. TOOLS I USE — AFFILIATE LINKS Flexcut Carvin’ Jack 2.0: https://amzn.to/4eFL872 Finger Tape Variety Pack: https://amzn.to/3QYlWPm BeaverCraft Leather Strop: https://amzn.to/4tYz0mg Pfeil Palm Carving Tools — 6-Piece Set: https://amzn.to/4dcoQJ3 FolkArt Matte Acrylic Paint Set: https://amzn.to/4eFM0IQ STAEDTLER Mars Technico Mechanical Pencil: https://amzn.to/3SkLqqA Replacement Pencil Lead: https://amzn.to/43eWuba Pencil Sharpener: https://amzn.to/4e1arym Gravity Timer: https://amzn.to/4dLGp2M As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links supports The Modern Woodcarver at no additional cost to you. Thank you! FOLLOW & SUPPORT All Gurrado Woodworks and Modern Woodcarver links: https://linktr.ee/gurradowoodworks Support The Modern Woodcarver on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheModernWoodcarver #Woodcarving #FlatPlaneCarving #TheModernWoodcarver

Most woodcarvers focus on details too early. Master woodcarver Vic Hood explains why strong form, proportion, and movement must come first—and how getting them right can dramatically improve your carvings. In this episode of The Modern Woodcarver Podcast, host Michael Gurrado sits down with Vic Hood, a nationally recognized woodcarver, instructor, and author known for his realistic faces, large-scale busts, and mastery of mallet carving. Vic shares how two “terrible” attempts at carving a cigar-store figure unexpectedly launched a career that has kept his woodcarving classes full for more than 32 years. He also explains why a technically detailed carving can still feel wrong—and what separates a good carving from a great one. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why form matters more than detail in realistic woodcarving • Vic’s “female faces are Y’s, men are T’s” approach to carving believable heads • How Fibonacci proportions and a dedicated ruler improve visual balance • Why butternut is Vic’s preferred wood for fine details and mallet work • How dominant lines create movement and guide the viewer’s eye • Why Vic rarely paints his finished carvings • How he prices artwork using a personal “tipping point” • Why some carvings take a year while others are completed in days • The difference between a technically accurate carving and one that feels right • Why repetition and focused practice matter more than natural talent Vic also discusses his unusual journey through historic-building restoration, archaeology, sculpture, and teaching. He reflects on lessons learned from influential carvers such as Larry Rogers, John Burke, and Harold Enlow—and gives us a glimpse inside a studio filled with hundreds of pieces representing a lifetime of experimentation and refinement. Vic Hood is the author of “Carving Found Wood,” “Extreme Pumpkin Carving,” and his newest book, “From Good to Great in Wood Carving.” If you want to carve more realistic faces, improve your proportions, strengthen the form of your carvings, or understand why a piece sometimes looks “off” despite having plenty of detail, this conversation is for you. What do you focus on first when you carve: form or detail? Let me know in the comments. TOOLS I USE — AFFILIATE LINKS Flexcut Carvin’ Jack 2.0 https://amzn.to/4eFL872 Finger Tape Variety Pack https://amzn.to/3QYlWPm BeaverCraft Leather Strop https://amzn.to/4tYz0mg Pfeil Palm Carving Tools — 6-Piece Set https://amzn.to/4dcoQJ3 FolkArt Matte Acrylic Paint Set https://amzn.to/4eFM0IQ STAEDTLER Mars Technico Mechanical Pencil https://amzn.to/3SkLqqA Replacement Pencil Lead https://amzn.to/43eWuba Pencil Sharpener https://amzn.to/4e1arym Gravity Timer https://amzn.to/4dLGp2M As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links helps support The Modern Woodcarver Podcast at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel! FOLLOW & SUPPORT All Gurrado Woodworks and Modern Woodcarver links: https://linktr.ee/gurradowoodworks Support The Modern Woodcarver on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheModernWoodcarver #Woodcarving #WoodSculpture #TheModernWoodcarver