Power Carving: A Blend of Art and Woodworking

Freeform serving bowl, power-carved

Small projects are a great way to stay inspired, experiment with new ideas, and learn new skills in the shop.

This decorative bowl is both a sculpture and a functional piece. It was loosely inspired by Constantin Brancusi’s iconic Bird in Space sculpture, with its elegant, flowing forms and sense of movement.

The shape was created by power carving each half of the bowl using Saburrtooth carving discs, starting with a coarse grit and gradually working through finer grits to refine the surface. The process is simple, enjoyable, and allows the form to evolve naturally as you work.

Constantin Brâncuși, Bird in Space

Cordless grinder with an assortment of Saburrtooth grinding discs

Starting with the coarse disc and working outward to let the chips fly

 

Working with a fine-grit disc before switching to sandpaper

Because this is art, and I say that somewhat jokingly, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

That may sound funny, but it’s true.

In this project, I intentionally created two imperfectly carved halves and joined them together with a 1/2-inch divider in the center. The bowl is essentially made from three pieces of wood: the two carved outer sections and the small center spacer that separates them.

Gluing the parts together with a divider in the center

Using clamping cauls to keep the parts flush

Scraping off the glue squeeze-out with a chisel

You might look at it and think, “The carvings don’t line up.” And you’re right—they don’t. But to me, that’s part of the beauty of the piece. That’s one of the things I love about art: it doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, those imperfections often give a project its character and uniqueness.

Running the piece through the planer

Cutting a bevel on the side

Applying the finish

Projects like this put the fun back into woodworking for me. They encourage creativity, allow for experimentation, and often result in something truly one-of-a-kind for your home.

I hope you’ll check out the full project video and that it inspires you to make something in your own shop.

Coffee table with a glass top, shaped with the power-carving discs

Thanks for following along, and I’ll see you in the next one!