To be a good nut carver, one needs not only the basic skills in painting, calligraphy, and carving, but also special materials, knives, good perception, nimble fingers, unique ideas, and exceptional patience.

Special materials refer to the selection of the peach or olive stone. Generally, thick and fat ones that have a surface big enough for carving are preferred. Special knives refer to the carving tools that are most suitable for the artist's hands. Good perception means the artist has to have a layout of his or her work before carving. The artist should also judge the center of gravity and the structure's stability by his or her own eyes.

The artist should have deft yet forceful arms, wrists, and fingers. With many years of painstaking practice, a good carving artist can handle nut or fruit stones with high proficiency, no matter how hard the stones may be. Because the materials of peach stone and walnut are very hard and small, scratches of the fingers are hard to avoid; thus, a short temper will only result in one giving up halfway. 

Having unique ideas is another key factor in creating nut carvings. Different artists who have their respective esthetic notion, artistic accomplishment, and technical specialty can use the same kind of material to make totally different artworks.

The paltry fruit stones and walnuts, with the process of the folk craftspeople, become elaborate artistic works, demonstrating the wisdom of ordinary people. Accordingly, this traditional art form is gaining more momentum in the new century.

Author: Jeff