Wood Carving Basics

Book of projects designed to give beginners the experience of work in a wide number of carving styles.

This early work on wood carving is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. It contains details of the tools, materials and techniques involved in different styles of wood carving. This is a fascinating work and highly recommended for anyone interested in the art of the decorative woodwork. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Introduces woodcarving techniques and offers patterns and instructions for various folk art projects.

In this wonderful resource for both novice and veteran carvers, two masters of the craft present detailed instructions and illustrations on how to confidently carve animals, flowers, figures, and more.

Whether you're a woodcarver expanding your talents, a seasoned carver refining your skills, or a beginner newly introduced to this fulfilling craft, this is the only carving book you need. Brimming with expert instruction and 8 attractive step-by-step woodcarving projects, you'll learn all the classic carving styles and techniques along with the fundamentals of wood and tool selection, sharpening, creating a workspace, and finishing your completed work. Also included is a complete chapter on power carving.

The first step into a new craft can be overwhelming: Where to start? What tools to buy? What projects to begin with? Thanks to author and internationally acclaimed woodcarver Chris Pye, this guide is filled with everything a beginning woodcarver needs to know. Chris Pye's Woodcarving Course & Reference Manual is akin to having a one-on-one course with a master carver. You'll learn what to look for in a workbench, the importance of commissioning your carving tools – there's more to it than just sharpening! – and how to make exacting cuts and execute a variety of techniques. Like any good instructor, Pye includes practice exercises to make you comfortable with the tools and techniques so you can build your skills and carve with confidence. Pye's conversational teaching style will encourage you as you follow the step-by-step instructions and work on a number of motifs, as well as projects for low, high, and pierced relief, and in-the-round. With the help of Chris Pye, you'll learn to carve: four types of molding, a beautiful koi project in three levels of relief carving, a realistic baseball cap in-the-round, and a charming wren in-the-round.

Carving Woodspirits: Beyond the Basics takes a woodcarver beyond basic face carving instructions. This step-by-step tutorial guides the carver through carving a detailed woodspirit face on a walking stick.

Superb guide to every aspect of the craft combines practical instruction with more than 1,000 photos and diagrams. Projects range from simple — boxes, chests, chairs — to complex — tables, cabinets, beds.