Creating the Illusion of Depth in Carvings

In this presentation from Fine Woodworking New England 2025, master woodcarver Mary May explores the art and illusion of shallow relief carving—showing how carvers can create a convincing sense of depth while removing surprisingly little material. Mary explains how the human eye interprets light, shadow, and overlapping forms, and how those principles can be deliberately used to mislead the viewer into perceiving depth where there is very little.

Throughout the talk, she emphasizes that successful relief carving is less about carving and more about thoughtful design, careful layout, and understanding how forms transition into one another.

Make sure to check out this year’s lineup for Fine Woodworking New England, coming May 1 and 2 in Manchester, Conn. It’s always a blast to hang out with other woodworkers, check out cool new and vintage tools, and learn from some of the country’s best woodworkers!

-Ben Strano

Get started carving

Whether you are looking to add a detail to a box or chair, or embark on a full-fledged woodcarving adventure, your journey begins with knowing the tools you will need.

Carve an Acanthus Leaf

Mary May shares her pattern and her step-by-step technique for carving his classic furniture decoration.

Relief Carving

Traditional methods work best