39" Large Wooden Gautam Buddha Preaching His Dharma

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In this wooden preaching Buddha statue, a distinctive aesthetic quality is noticeable, thanks to the bronze-toned slip on the wood which gives it a metallic appearance, and the vibrant red petal-like motifs that adorn the Buddha’s robe. The physical features and the unique style of draping the monastic robe in this preaching Buddha wooden statue underline the Southeast Asian, especially Japanese influence on the maker. The coils of Buddha’s hair are transformed into numerous tiny bumps that cover his head, the face is slightly elongated and the eyes instead of being depicted in the almond shape, are marked by two identical incised lines. Instead of the three lines on the Buddha’s neck that represent folds of flesh, this icon of Buddha teaching his Dhamma has a single, deep curving line joining the neck to the torso and an ovular bump on the chest just above the robe to provide a hint of fleshiness. The limbs, especially the palms which are in different Mudras (gestures), the necklace that the Buddha wears, and the shape of the lotus pedestal on which he is seated- all these elements carry an appreciable difference in the style which becomes more apparent when compared to the technique of traditional Indian art.

The robes of the preaching Buddha statue cover both of his shoulders, wrapping him in a multitude of petals that remind one of the cherry blossoms that are synonymous with Japanese culture. In Buddhism, the cherry blossom signifies the transient nature of human life, which goes through the unavoidable stages of bloom and decay. Calmly wearing such profound wisdom as his attire, the Buddha has his right hand raised in the “Karana Mudra”, which is a protective gesture that signifies Buddha’s powers that guards the follower against negative forces. Juxtaposing the philosophy attached to the cherry blossoms with the significance of the Mudra, one can understand the potent message inherent in this preaching Buddha statue- that one should face the reality of the impermanence of life, but instead of being fearful, should follow the teachings of the Buddha, which are the ultimate shield against the negativity that surrounds human life.

Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.

2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.

3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.

4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.