Nut carving, known as Hediao in Chinese, generally refers to two kinds of carvings that use the fruit's pit (核), like peach pits, and walnut (核桃) as the raw material.
It gained popularity in the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming Dynasty, the art form (make) very high achievements, with many of the rich and high officials considering fashionable to wear a piece of nut carving around. The ancient artists left their accomplished skills on those small (work), which featured human figures, various birds and beasts, and even lines of poems.
The hardest thing about nut carving is each piece of the raw material is different in texture (纹理) and flexibility. By looking at the textures on the surface of a walnut, a seasoned carving artist can basically tell whether the piece can (use) for carving. In carving the artwork, the artist should first have basic blueprint in his mind according to the textures on the surface, and then make adjustments when meeting any (hide) holes in the pits or walnuts. The whole carving process (constant) requires reconsideration and creation, and there is no established pattern to follow.
(be) a good nut carver, one needs not only the basic skills in painting, calligraphy, and carving, but special materials, knives, good observation, flexible fingers, unique ideas, and exceptional (patient).
