Hey everyone!
I'm just getting started with carving and I absolutely love it! However, I'm not great at drawing or designing my own pieces. I see so many fantastic designs and patterns shared around, and I'm wondering if it's okay to use these designs to practice carving and share my progress on social media. Just to clarify, I'm not looking to sell anything—this is purely a hobby. I do try to ask for permission when I can, but sometimes it's not possible or practical. I don't want to step on anyone's toes or take credit for their work; I just want to enjoy carving and improve my skills. How do other beginners usually handle this?
Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
Honestly, it’s totally okay to use designs for practice as long as you're not profiting from them. Just make sure you try to ask for permissions where you can and give credit if it's a direct replica. Remember, everyone has their unique twist when carving anyway, so it’ll never be an exact copy!
It's pretty standard in any craft to start by replicating what you see. Just be mindful about using designs commercially—always better to get permission if you're planning to sell something. But for practicing and sharing your results? Go for it!
When you’re just starting out, copying existing designs is a common way to gauge your skills and pinpoint areas to improve. Many classic carvings are already in the public domain, so dive into those! You'll find that the more you practice, the more your creativity will flow, even if drawing isn't your strong suit.
Exactly! Plus, using others' work as inspiration is how you get better, and eventually, you'll develop your own style.