Dog Wood Carving: Make a Small Cartoon Puppy

This small dog is inspired by Shiro from Crayon Shin-chan. Its scalloped outline suggests a fluffy coat without carving individual hairs. The animations follow the rough silhouette, the shaping of the ears and legs, and the painted finish. It is an intermediate project, particularly around the small leg spaces.

Draw the puppy’s front view

Draw the character on the front of the block, using slightly wavy edges around the head and body instead of a regular oval. Include the face and the main leg divisions.

This project begins with this front view rather than a detailed set of drawings. The sides are shaped later, with particular attention to the centered ears and tail.

Reduce the outer waste

Begin outside the drawing, removing the block’s corners and then approaching the silhouette. Keep the outline visible as the shape emerges. Turn and check the blank as you work so the cutout does not lean to one side.

The early animations show broad waste removal. Preserve material around the face, ears, and legs for the more controlled shaping that follows.

Support the blank so it cannot tip or shift under the cutting pressure. Keep your steadying hand clear of the edge and its follow-through.

Shape the sides and small projections

Reduce the material on either side of the tail, leaving its thickness centered on the body. Treat the ears in the same way: their side material is reduced while the middle remains.

Slope the underside of the face and round its sides. Check that these changes give the large head depth without losing the fluffy outline drawn on the front.

Separate the legs and round the corners

Open the spaces between the legs to distinguish them from the body. Refine the outer sides of the legs as well, keeping their forms visible from the side and underneath.

Round the remaining corners of the face and body. The goal is a soft cartoon shape with a few clear divisions, rather than a highly detailed coat.

Before opening these small spaces, review grain direction and thin connections. Reposition the holding hand so no finger lies beyond the wood you are removing. Review hand placement and blade clearance before cutting between the feet.

Paint the puppy white

The animation shows white color brushed onto the carved form. Once the base color is ready for detailing, add the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth with a fine dark pen or brush. The finished example also has small pink cheek marks.

Use the final view to check the expression and the separation of the ears and legs. These simple details do much of the work of making the character recognizable.