How can I turn a 2-D image into a 3-D sculpture?

December 17, 2015 7:22 AM

I love the two-figure wooden creche at the top of this column. It can't be bought, maker is unknown, all I have is this image--if I wanted one of my own, how would I go about making it, or having it made?
posted by MonkeyToes to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

Each figure started as a flat board. I'm sure someone could digitally extract an outline for each figure from the photograph, but a decent approximation could be sketched.

The outline was cut with a band saw (some saw marks are still visible), which is the easiest way to cut such shapes, but a scroll saw, coping saw or jigsaw could do the job. The rest is carving (with hand-held edge tools), sanding and applying finish.

The picture is far too blurry to be sure of the wood species, but sassafras comes to mind as a soft, easily carved ring-porous wood that would look similar.
posted by jon1270 at 7:54 AM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

A wood worker could probably execute a fairly close copy based on the photo. How much money are you willing to sink into this?

If you search Etsy for "wooden nativity" several sellers come up; one of them might be willing to do a custom commission?
posted by Wretch729 at 8:01 AM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

Join Lumberjocks and ask about it in the wood carving forum. A central component of their community is the projects page and I've seen a TON of Christian and holiday themed stuff there over the years, so there's a chance it could catch someone's interest for more than purely monetary reasons.

Unless you have an interest in taking up carving as a hobby, I'd focus on getting someone to copy it because the tools, vises, and sharpening stones could add up to a lot of money.
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:12 PM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]