Wood carvers employ a blend of artistic intuition and technical skill to make fragile pieces appear substantial. One key technique is undercutting—carving deeper shadows beneath edges to suggest thickness. The direction of wood grain also plays a crucial role; carvers often align grain patterns horizontally to mimic the natural sagging of heavy materials. Strategic proportion distortion helps too—slightly enlarging lower sections creates visual "anchors." Master carvers use tool marks intentionally, leaving subtle texture gradients that guide the eye toward weight-bearing areas. Perhaps most remarkably, they manipulate light reflection through precise surface finishing, making rounded forms catch light in ways that imply density. These methods transform lightweight basswood or lime into pieces that seem to possess the heft of stone or metal, proving that in woodworking, perception often outweighs physical reality.