SARU MASK #6.

 Step 6. I boiled the mask in paraffin and polished it. I decided to make the eyes from amber.

SARU MASK #5.

 Step 5: Staining. I’m using red pomegranate tea + black tea and rusty hobnails.

SARU MASK #4.

 Step 4. Final addition of details (eyelids, fur). On back side of mask - adding internal relief, polishing netsuke and carving signature.

SARU MASK #3.

 Step 3. Adding even more details (mouth, ears) + start working on the back of the mask.

SARU MASK #2.

 Step 2. Finalizing the shape of the mask and starting adding details (eyes, wrinkles on the forehead).

SARU MASK #1.

Step 1. Creating a shape from a sketch.

Nakamura Tokisada (Masatoshi) carving wood netsuke.

This video is the unique opportunity to see the entire process of creating netsuke from the great master of the 20th century Nakamura Tokisada (Masatoshi).

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 1

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 2

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 3

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 4

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 5

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 6

HARE (in ittobori style)

Wood, 3.7x2.3 cm. Black tortoise shell inlays.

4. HARE - work in progress.

The eyes are made of black armor segment turtles and stick using epoxy. After drying, I soak figure using linseed oil, rubbing it in wood surface in several stages. Netsuke ready!

Ittobori Netsuke:

Ittobori refers to the method or manner in which the netsuke are carved, with one movement of the carving tool, instead of carving in many different areas; and using two tone Korean Matsu pine wood.

The Ittobori style was invented by Sukenaga and enhanced by Matsuda, which consisted of using simple straight cuts in two-toned chosen Matsu (Korean pine wood) ...

Itto-bori started in 1137, when carvers decorated the dance stage of Kasuga Grand Shrine's annual Wakamiya On-matsuri Festival with carved wooden dolls. Since then, they have made newly carved decorations for the festival every year. Until the mid Edo period, Itto-bori carving was used only for sacred festivals and ceremonies. Later it flourished through the efforts of the late Edo-period craftsman Toen Morikawa (1821-1896) as objects of art available for general public throughout the country.

3. HARE - work in progress.

Next, I brought the figure up to the final state, and paint over it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

2. HARE - work in progress.

Then I drilled himotoshi (only at this stage, to save time and achieve the best results, I used a drill.)

1. HARE - work in progress.

My next netsuke I decided to make using ittobori technique (‘carving with a single knife-stroke’). This technique used simple, broad carving strokes instead of the more usual complex and intricate type of carving.
The best material, in my wood arsenal, is the apple tree wood.

1. First, I made a rough model of a rabbit using only one tool.

Hawaii Five-O. Season 8, episode 14 - "Wooden Model of a Rat".

August March, a seemingly respectable businessman who is also an art collector, has been running a smuggling ring of Asian art. When he discovers McGarrett is also a collector of small Asian sculptures, March arranges for a stolen piece of art from Japan to be substituted for McGarrett's collection, which is about to go on display in a Honolulu museum. March sees this an opportunity to frame the lawman who could smash his operation. But McGarrett, despite all odds, moves to trap his opponent.

https://youtu.be/ob_Fp0wmTNQ

Carp fish.

Wood. 4.7x2.8 cm. Tortoise shell inlays.

8. "FISH", step by step.

Step 8:

Impregnated our figure with linseed oil, and give dry. Finally polish. Statuette ready.

7. "FISH", step by step.

Step 7:
Glue eyes with an epoxy adhesive. Again, polish the entire surface of the figures.

6. "FISH", step by step.

Step 6:

Once again, we polish the surface and stain with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The next stage - inserting the eyes. I used the transparent part of tortoise shell.
The recess for the pupil I was doing the inside of the eyes and paint it with black paint.

5. "FISH", step by step.

Step 5:

Carving of fish scales and other small parts.

4. "FISH", step by step.

Step 4:

When the form is ready, I polish the surface. 

The next stage - carving fine details.

3. "FISH", step by step.

Step 3:

A little more work over form, but now with the drill I'm starting to use wood carving tools.

2. "FISH", step by step.

Step 2:

Using a drill to remove all unnecessary.

1. "FISH", step by step.

Step 1: 

Choice of material. I decided to use a "wild pear" tree.

Tanuki no hara tsutsumi (Badger fiend)

Wood. 3.6x3.2 cm.

Daikoku with a sack and rats.

Mammoth ivory. 5.5x3.8 cm.

Fukurokuju with a fan.

Mammoth ivory. 4.9x3.6 cm

Woman wrestler

Wood. 4.3x2.9 cm.

Tenaga making a hand-stand.

First, the really interesting figure, I pulled out after the army in 1993.

Unfortunately, it was stolen.
I recently revisited an old photographic film, and found a very blurred picture of my figure.

Wood, about 5 cm.

How I started wood carving.

I started carving wood during my school years (1986-1987). My first figures were pretty primitive, but it was a start. The reason to start working was watching the Soviet film "Krosh Vacations". Which shows the process of collecting netsuke in the USSR.
I started woodcarving with ordinary pocket knife, and it was awful :)

A boy drawing Okame. Frame from the movie “Krosh's Vacation”: