structure

One of the simplest but most crucial things to learn when carving spoons is the concept of establishing faces and maintaining them. Instead of thinking of the spoon as a series of curves that all blend into one another, it is much more useful to think of it as a top face, bottom face and an edge, at right angles to these first two, that runs all the way around.

When you are establishing the lines of the spoon and pulling them into focus, avoid the temptation to nibble off the edges, but instead focus on DEFINING these edges. That way, you are being clear about the shape you want and moving towards that at all times. The side edge, in particular, is helpful for allowing you to change the lines of the spoon from the side (the profile view) without altering how it looks from the top or bottom (the plan view). So long as you maintain SOME edge, this will be true.

The goal then, as you carve, is to pull the spoon into refinement by slowly decreasing this side edge step by step, keeping enough of it to make what adjustments might still be needed, and working in sequence: side edge, top face, bottom face, side edge, top face, bottom face. Around and around.

It is by keeping these separate right up until the last moment, when all the curves come together and meet, that you end up with the spoon YOU intended, instead of the spoon that happened to you.