Simple cuts add depth and shadows by Lora S. Irish This article was first published in issue 39 of Woodcarving Illustrated. A high relief carving depends on shadows and the illusion of depth. Undercutting helps you achieve this and has the added benefit of tucking the joint line underneath an element, which allows […]
Roughing and dry-brushing techniques add life to your carving without overpowering the wood by Lora S. Irish This article was originally published in issue 46 of Woodcarving Illustrated. In this project, I use stain, oil paint, and acrylic paint to enhance the project without obscuring the wood grain. This fun wood […]
Tips for keeping your carving tools razor sharp by John Mignone and Roger Schroeder. This article was first published in issue 32 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Ask ten carvers how to sharpen a tool and you are bound to get ten different answers. But what is the right way to sharpen a […]
The basics of getting your tools into the best condition for carving and keeping them there by Chris Pye This article was first published in issue 37 of Woodworking Illustrated. Most carving tools that you buy today come “ready-sharpened,” and it comes as a surprise to students in my courses that the […]
Use the right products to ensure your outdoor projects last by Bob Duncan This version of this article was published in issue 67 of Woodcarving Illustrated. When you carve or build something for outdoor display, you want it to last, whether it’s a sign or a garden decoration. Ordinary indoor finishes […]
Easy steps to tune a complex tool by Mac Proffitt This article was first published in issue 54 of Woodcarving Illustrated. A V-tool is simply two chisels stuck together, and chisels are the easiest tools to sharpen. The trick to sharpening V-tools is to sharpen both chisels equally. Avoid cheap V-tools. […]
Grain direction strengthens and accents a carving by Everett Ellenwood This article was first published in issue 44 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Grain can either accent your carving or weaken it considerably, so it is important to pay attention to the grain when planning a carving. Under a microscope, the cross section […]
Transfer measurements and maintain proportions with these simple tools by Bob Duncan This article was first published in issue 57 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Basic measuring tools have been around for most of documented history; the Freemasons include dividers in their symbol. These simple tools help carvers create symmetry and transfer measurements […]
This easy-to-make shop aid is a great way to keep your gouges and V-tools in tip-top shape by Lora S. Irish This article was first published in issue 35 of Woodcarving Illustrated. With just a few minutes of work, you can create this honing board customized to sharpen your specific gouges […]
Carve in your living room with this simple shop-made board by Gary MacKay This article was first published in issue 49 of Woodcarving Illustrated. When I first started chip carving, I would place a towel on my lap to catch the chips. With chip carving, you should have your thumb, knuckle, […]
