Nati Wood

Wood carving is an astonishing art form. These sculptures are true three-dimensional canvases, whose detailing and refinement amaze, captivate, and even leave one bewildered. Can this really be made of wood? By hand? And nothing is glued on? Yes — exactly so. ✅ The panel created in the author’s woodcarving technique “Tatianka,” developed by Shamil Sasykov in the early 1990s. The term hyperrealism best reflects the nature of these works, which strive to portray the beauty, harmony, and complexity of nature with maximum realism. If we turn to dictionaries, hyperrealism is a term that emerged in the 1970s, describing a movement in contemporary art aimed at creating a convincing illusion of reality. The artist literally imitates real objects, generating a new sense of perception and allowing us to see the finest details that are invisible to the naked eye. Each piece is a sketch from the natural world — a kind of “microcosm” recreated on a wooden board: frozen life where, among intertwined leaves and branches of trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers, one can notice butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, snails, frogs, lizards, and snakes… They seem alive, as if paused only for a moment. How It Is Made ✅ Creating a single piece takes no less than a year, and the carving process itself is preceded by a long period of preparation. This includes searching for inspiration — in photographs, paintings, or simply on a lawn in the yard or in a nearby park. An important stage is designing the composition, where it is necessary to consider not only the narrative and harmony of the future work, but also the technical complexity and specific features of the carving. And what composition is complete without drawings, numerous sketches, and hand-made drafts? A great deal of time is also spent studying the future elements. Carving a dandelion, which we have all seen dozens of times in our lives, cannot be done simply from memory. It is necessary to find highly detailed photos from different angles — of the leaves, the flower head, and the “parachutes.” The best solution is to photograph a real dandelion yourself, examine it closely in every detail, and even hold and turn it in your hands. This also helps when modeling individual elements in clay, allowing the artist to see the future work in volume and refine both composition and carving technique. The master learned all of this under the guidance of his teacher, Shamil Sasykov, having once enrolled in woodcarving courses open to everyone — courses that continue to operate today. Thus, flat relief patterns evolved into multi-layered, highly complex forms; decorative motifs transformed into naturalistic and максимально realistic imagery. Yet the principle of composition remains the same — the “no gaps” style of carving: in nature there are no empty spaces; one leaf hides another. Likewise, in “Tatianka,” elements conceal and interact with one another, developing together. Any “flat” drawing can be divided into several levels, creating a sophisticated, multi-tiered pattern. As required by the “Tatianka” technique, the works in this series are made from a single solid block of wood. ✅ All the finest details — the thinnest pine needles, petals that seem to glow when held to the light — are not layered or glued on, but carved together with all other elements from one and the same board, 5–15 cm thick. This is possible not only because of special carving techniques, but also due to the tools and materials used. These works, like most pieces in the “Tatianka” style, are made from linden wood. 🍀 Its soft, pliable texture has long been recognized as one of the best materials for creating delicate carved décor. Tools are equally important: the master works exclusively with professional “Tatianka” chisels and carving tools designed for softwood. A wide variety of shapes (around 300 types in the line) makes it possible to choose the tool best suited for each task — straight, curved, spoon-shaped gouges, semicircular, flat, V-shaped, reverse, angled, thin, and wide knives. 🍀 The elegance of nature in wood: a unique carved panel. A masterpiece of handcrafted artistry.

Contacts