WOOD SCULPTURE: DESIGNING AND MEANING

Wood sculpture is the art of making figures or designs in relief or the round by carving wood. Sculptors in Ghana in designing a piece do not design just for designing sake. They attach meaning to every design they make. Some of these designs have general meaning while others are peculiar to the sculptor or the client he is working for.

The most popular and common to sculptors in Ghana is the Adinkra symbols. The Adinkra symbols are common to wood sculptors in Ghana as it has a shared meaning. These symbols are very traditional and originates from Ghana precisely, the Ashanti region. Therefore, these symbols have become common designs for wood sculptors in Ghana since most Ghanaians can allude to it.

 This is an adinkra symbol called “Gye Nyame” which means except for God. This symbol have been designed on the )ware game. There are others like the “Fawohodie” which means freedom, emancipation, and independence. There is also the “Nyame Dua” which means tree of God and “Nea onnim no sua a, ohu” which means he who does not

know can know from learning.

There are other designs that are peculiar to the sculptor. Most wood sculptors in Ghana create certain designs that over time, becomes their signature. They create these designs and give them a meaning. Some designs are also created to suit the client. They design the sculptor to suit the meaning the client wants to attach to it.

Designing in wood sculpture is not done for the fun of it or just for the beautification. It is done to give meaning to the work.

WOOD SCULPTURE: FINISHING

 Wood sculpture is the art of making figures or designs in relief or the round by carving wood. Finishing in wood sculpture means to give the piece or carving a desired or particular surface texture. Finishing forms an integral part in preparing the piece for the market. The finishes that are most common to the Ghanaian sculptor are sandpaper, potassium dichromate, water colour, shoe polish and oil paint.                                                                        A sand paper finishing

         

  Potassium dichromate also known as potassium bichromate or bichromate of potash is also another type of finish used in Ghanaian wood sculpture. It is a bright orange-red solid that is dissolved in water and used to stain wood. It is effective is staining wood that are high in tannin such as oak, mahogany   and walnut. The colour it produces depends on the wood but it is generally red to brown in colour.

Water colour is also another finish used by wood sculptors in Ghana. It is a pigment that, when mixed with water as a medium creates a type of paint. Water colour is added to vinegar until the water colour dissolves in the vinegar. The stain is used on the wood to give a slightly silvery sheen.

                                                                                                

          

A black shoe polish finishing

Shoe polish is also used in finishing by the Ghanaian wood sculptor. It is a waxy paste, cream or liquid use to polish leather foot wears to expand their lives, maintain and improve their appearance. The black and brown paste is widely used by the sculptor. It gives a dark and silvery sheen.

Oil paint is also used as a finish in wood sculpture. It is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The piece is taking into consideration when choosing the colour.

The sculptor therefore uses the finishes mentioned above not only to give the piece a silvery and beautiful look but also to protect it from termite.

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WOOD SCULPTURE: MATERIALS AND TOOLS

Sculpture is derived from the Latin word “sculptura” which means to carve. A sculpture is a three dimensional art form. Its medium is varied as it includes wood, clay, stones and any other object that can be made into an artistic rendering. Wood sculpture is therefore the art of making figures or designs in relief or the round by carving wood.

Even though there is a wide range of wood available on the Ghanaian market, not all these wood are suitable for carving. The Ghanaian sculptor can choose from the following in carving a piece. The most suitable for carving is the ebony also known as the dark wood. There are others like the “Burmese teak” popularly known as the teak, the rosewood, the mahogany and the “)sese”.

There is also a wide range of carving tools available to the sculptor. 

The sculptor can choose the locally manufactured one or the imported ones from Germany, Japan and Italy.

The most important of the carving tools is the carving bench where all the carving is done. There is also the bench vice which holds the piece during the carving process. There is the wood saw for cutting the wood. Ghanaian sculptors make use of other carving tools like the saw file for sharpening the saw. The plane is used for shaping the wood in board carving. Ghanaian sculptors also make use of the carving stone which is used to sharpen the tools.

The U-gorge is used for taking out the sketch and the V-gorge for designing the wood during the carving process. The chisel is used to mortise and dress the art, the file which is used for dressing the work or the art. The spoke shave is used to smooth the work after carving. Finally, the make use of the square and the tape measure for measuring the length of the wood.

Before the sculptor comes out with a beautiful piece like the one above, he would have to make a choice between the woods mentioned and also use each of the carving tools for its right purpose to arrive at an amazing piece just like  this one.