The Art Creation of Wood Carving Based on the Conception of Near Naturalism: Insights from the Natural Property of Wood Structure

The fundamental viewpoints of near naturalism art creation were concisely summarized, based on the viewpoint of naturalism art creation combining with the process of wood carving practice. The various structures of natural wood were newly concluded from the perspective of material tectonics of wood carving, especially on the natural properties and characteristics closely related to wood carving such as wood three sections, heartwood and sapwood, grain, and figure. Further, the path and thought of near naturalism art creation were expounded while taking the representative works of wood carving as examples. In sum: 1) The basic viewpoints of near naturalism art creation are respecting nature but not simply coping it, and following the laws of nature especially the laws of biomaterials science but not rigidly confining to material form, so that the art creation is invisibly integrating into nature materials. 2) The paths of near naturalism art creation are keeping more original and natural form, and diversifying the carving techniques and colors, aiming to pursuit more the natural entity than the artificial efforts. 3) The art creation of wood carving based on the near naturalism excels the simple imitation based on the naturalism, by utilizing wood to express the sublimation of thought and emotion that are adhering with objectives but detaching from them, and ultimately trying to attain the best exalted mood of seamless unity of man, wood and nature.