Direct carving is the term generally used to describe a style and technique of carving that involves sculpting an object without the use of any preliminary drawings or models. There are a number of synonyms for this type of carving that can be used interchangeably, depending on the context. Examples of these synonyms include free carving, spontaneous carving, intuitive carving, and intuitive sculpting. These phrases all describe the same basic technique, which involves carving an object directly from the material being worked on, without any preconceived ideas or specific plans to guide the process. Regardless of which term is used, direct carving is considered to be a highly expressive and intuitive form of sculpture that often results in powerful, dynamic and evocative pieces of art.