Sculptors who choose to work in wood fight an uphill battle against the grain, as they try to make contours look smooth and human body parts as realistic as possible.
But wood is a medium chosen because of its heart, and it’s the tool carved facets and random grain patterns that most people find warm and appealing.
Japanese sculptor Yoshitoshi Kanemaki has definitely found his heart in wood as a medium, and between his purposeful incorporation of tool marks, his retention of grain pattern beneath layers of paint, and his signature cartoon-surreal style his sculptures are a delight to behold, full of humanistic symbolism which gently blows your mind like a light breeze rustling leaves on a tree branch.
-Via Hi-Fructose