Making the Doll

In an age of cyber technology and mass-produced molded products, it is rewarding to craft, with our own hands, a work of personal expression made from a natural material. The satisfaction derived from shaping wood with hand tools, making large chips fly with mallet and gouge, carefully rounding forms with a chisel, and applying a hand rubbed finish, is unique. Woodcarving can be enjoyed at any level, from whittling a found stick or pine board with a pocket knife to carving a sculpture in a fully equipped shop with many chisels and power tools. There are lots of wood carving techniques takes places which can create different styles to a woods and also make the product more attractive.

Similarly in Natungarm the aretisans are practising a unique style of wood carving so. They always use 3d shaped woods to create owls and similar types of dolls and also they have used flat woods and other shaped woods. The making follows the five steps to prepare the doll to go to the market and to be sold.

The making process involves following steps:

1. Seasoning

2. Cutting

3. Marking

4. Carving

5. Finishing

Seasoning: Wood after obtaining from the market is kept in a well-ventilated place for drying purpose. Seasoned wood is the best for carving as it prevents cracks.

Cutting: Big logs of wood are cut into desired size with the help of cutting machine. It is further planned to start the carving.

Marking: Artisans make motifs or motifs of god and goddess on paper. These designs are then used to trace on the wood with the help of carbon paper and pencil. These are rough sketch which is refined gradually while carving.

Carving: Once the design is traced, artisans with the help of chisel and hammer start removing the extra wood. After a certain stage again the marking is

done andthe detailing is added. Face is the last to be carved. It involves a lot of precision and details.

Finishing: The carved piece of wood is rubbed with the sand paper to smoothen the surface. There after it is either colored using chemical paints or polished with wax to give it a shine. Hooks are attached if it is a hanging if required.