Be familiar with the different types of wood (soft and hard), be able to identify the grain of wood to avoid splintering, and be able to blend colours if necessary.

The tools are essential, they must be of excellent quality, and well sharpened. Work is entirely by hand, machines are only used in the early preparation stages.

The carver must be skilled in preparatory work, classical drawing, reproduction, outlining
Carbon paper is used to transfer the real scale model made on tracing paper onto the wood.
Have skills in modelling (in clay or plastiline) and moulding and casting (plaster, silicon, resin, foam), multiple piece moulds.

There are two types of wood carving.
Ornamental and decorative sculpture which involves the creation of contours and depth on a flat surface by the removal of material. This is used for the decoration of furniture and panels.
Sculpture in the round is the art of creating decorative objects, statues and sculptures by working in depth. The volume is in three dimensions. To this we can add functional sculpture (in design and applied arts) and conceptual (contemporary art) sculpture.