How to whittle a simple penguin for beginners
The Whittler
1,547 views
Meet Ollie the Optimistic Penguin – a hand-carved little character with a big heart! ✨
In this video, I start with a simple block of basswood and, step by step, carve it into Ollie – a penguin full of personality and charm. After whittling, I treated the wood with boiled linseed oil to enrich the grain, then painted Ollie with acrylics to bring him to life.
But Ollie isn’t just a carving – he’s a story of optimism. From the moment he hatched, Ollie was smaller than the rest of his colony. He stumbled in the snow, slipped on the ice, and often felt like he couldn’t keep up. But Ollie never stopped smiling. He believed that every fall was just a chance to get up stronger – and that optimism carried him through every challenge.
Like carving wood, life is full of rough edges. With patience, care, and a little hope, those edges can turn into something beautiful. So stick around to the end of the video and watch Ollie’s journey from a rough block of basswood to a penguin with a story to tell.
Tools & Materials:
Basswood block measuring 25x25x40 or preferably 100mm to aid holding
Orange County Carving Tools (OCCT) 35mm knife - but any knife is fine
Boiled linseed oil
Acrylic paints
If Ollie’s story inspired you, drop a comment and let me know what I should carve next. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to follow along on more carving adventures!
Remember: optimism can turn even the smallest steps into the biggest journeys.
👍 Don’t Forget!
If you enjoy this project, please like, subscribe, and hit the 🔔 bell to catch more woodcarving tutorials and character carvings.
🎥 Channel & Engagement
Subscribe to my channel: @thewhittleruk
Watch more videos: @thewhittleruk
Playlist link (optional): @thewhittleruk
🌐 Website & Blog
Official Website: https://thewhittler.co.uk/
Blog/Articles: https://thewhittler.co.uk/blog/
📱 Social Media
Facebook: Facebook: thewhittleruk
Twitter / X: https://x.com/Thewhittleruk
Instagram: Instagram: thewhittleruk
6 Comments
How to whittle a simple penguin for beginners
The Whittler
1,547 views
Meet Ollie the Optimistic Penguin – a hand-carved little character with a big heart! ✨
In this video, I start with a simple block of basswood and, step by step, carve it into Ollie – a penguin full of personality and charm. After whittling, I treated the wood with boiled linseed oil to enrich the grain, then painted Ollie with acrylics to bring him to life.
But Ollie isn’t just a carving – he’s a story of optimism. From the moment he hatched, Ollie was smaller than the rest of his colony. He stumbled in the snow, slipped on the ice, and often felt like he couldn’t keep up. But Ollie never stopped smiling. He believed that every fall was just a chance to get up stronger – and that optimism carried him through every challenge.
Like carving wood, life is full of rough edges. With patience, care, and a little hope, those edges can turn into something beautiful. So stick around to the end of the video and watch Ollie’s journey from a rough block of basswood to a penguin with a story to tell.
Tools & Materials:
Basswood block measuring 25x25x40 or preferably 100mm to aid holding
Orange County Carving Tools (OCCT) 35mm knife - but any knife is fine
Boiled linseed oil
Acrylic paints
If Ollie’s story inspired you, drop a comment and let me know what I should carve next. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to follow along on more carving adventures!
Remember: optimism can turn even the smallest steps into the biggest journeys.
👍 Don’t Forget!
If you enjoy this project, please like, subscribe, and hit the 🔔 bell to catch more woodcarving tutorials and character carvings.
🎥 Channel & Engagement
Subscribe to my channel: @thewhittleruk
Watch more videos: @thewhittleruk
Playlist link (optional): @thewhittleruk
🌐 Website & Blog
Official Website: https://thewhittler.co.uk/
Blog/Articles: https://thewhittler.co.uk/blog/
📱 Social Media
Facebook: Facebook: thewhittleruk
Twitter / X: https://x.com/Thewhittleruk
Instagram: Instagram: thewhittleruk
In this video, I start with a simple block of basswood and, step by step, carve it into Ollie – a penguin full of personality and charm. After whittling, I treated the wood with boiled linseed oil to enrich the grain, then painted Ollie with acrylics to bring him to life.
But Ollie isn’t just a carving – he’s a story of optimism. From the moment he hatched, Ollie was smaller than the rest of his colony. He stumbled in the snow, slipped on the ice, and often felt like he couldn’t keep up. But Ollie never stopped smiling. He believed that every fall was just a chance to get up stronger – and that optimism carried him through every challenge.
Like carving wood, life is full of rough edges. With patience, care, and a little hope, those edges can turn into something beautiful. So stick around to the end of the video and watch Ollie’s journey from a rough block of basswood to a penguin with a story to tell.
Tools & Materials:
Basswood block measuring 25x25x40 or preferably 100mm to aid holding
Orange County Carving Tools (OCCT) 35mm knife - but any knife is fine
Boiled linseed oil
Acrylic paints
If Ollie’s story inspired you, drop a comment and let me know what I should carve next. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to follow along on more carving adventures!
Remember: optimism can turn even the smallest steps into the biggest journeys.
👍 Don’t Forget!
If you enjoy this project, please like, subscribe, and hit the 🔔 bell to catch more woodcarving tutorials and character carvings.
🎥 Channel & Engagement
Subscribe to my channel: / @thewhittleruk
Watch more videos: / @thewhittleruk
Playlist link (optional): / @thewhittleruk
🌐 Website & Blog
Official Website: https://thewhittler.co...
Blog/Articles: https://thewhittler.co...
📱 Social Media
Facebook: / thewhittleruk
Twitter / X: https://x.com/Thewhitt...
Instagram: / thewhittleruk