How to carve patterns Part 12 ~Nejiume (Twisted plum)~

2021年12月15日how to carve

“Nejiume” refers to a plum blossom with twisted petals, a design that expresses elegant movement and depth.

In this lesson, I’ll show you how to carve two variations of the twisted plum motif.

Contents

- 0.1. Tools Needed
1. Preparation
2. How to Carve Nejiume Type 1
- 2.1. Step 2: V-Shaped Yellow Line
3. How to Carve Nejiume Type 2
4. How to carve patterns

Tools Needed

You’ll use two types of chisels:

A sharp chisel
A shallow round chisel

Preparation

First, transfer the Nejiume design onto a postcard-sized wooden board using carbon paper.
You can download the sketch here: [PDF of Nejiume] — feel free to use it for tracing.

How to Carve Nejiume Type 1

In the image below, follow the green line and make progressively deeper cuts along the direction of the arrow using the sharp chisel.

Next, use the shallow round chisel to carve a smooth curved surface that intersects with the cut.
The orange area should become deeper than the surrounding darker area.

Cross-section view:

Cut in with the sharp chisel.
Shape a flowing curve with the shallow round chisel.
Intermediate progress shown below.

Step 2: V-Shaped Yellow Line

In the image below, carve along the yellow line into a V-shape at your preferred angle using the sharp chisel.

You can cut from different angles to create a clean, symmetrical groove.

How to Carve Nejiume Type 2

Step 1: Central Green Circle

Cut along the circular green line in the center using the sharp chisel.

Then, round off the blue line so that it intersects naturally with the cut, giving it a soft, three-dimensional shape.

Step 2: Yellow Line V-Cut (Same as Type 1)

As in Nejiume 1, carve the yellow line into a V-shape at your desired angle using the sharp chisel.

Step 3: Gradual Green Cut

In the image below, follow the green line and make the cut gradually deeper toward the center, as indicated by the arrow.

Step 4: Orange Plate Shape

Carve the orange area into a dish-like (plate-shaped) depression, with the center deeper than the edges.
Leave the pink parts untouched to maintain depth contrast.

Step 5: Restore Faded Lines

If any guide lines (like the yellow line) have faded during carving, redraw them using a pen before continuin

Step 6: Repeat Green and Yellow Cuts (Same as Type 1)

Once again, carve deeper along the green line using the sharp chisel, and intersect with a curve using the shallow round chisel, as in Type 1.
Then carve the yellow line into a V-shape at your chosen angle using the sharp chisel.

How to carve patterns

[Supplementary lecture] Controlling lines with a single sharp chisel

how to carve