Historic rural life captured in amazing detail A native of Utah, L. Darwin Dower combines wood sculpting and story telling. He brings to life memories of past times specializing in subjects of the Old West. Stories are then drawn from his highly detailed sculptures, reflecting on a more relaxed time […]
Use basic cuts to create accents for frames and furniture By Chris Pye Most carved molding looks more difficult to carve than it really is. Decorative molding has many uses, such as around the edges of tables or picture frames. The simpler carved moldings offer a good introduction to traditional […]
Quick and easy carving produces a functional display By Shawn Cipa This Santa project provides an ideal way to display your favorite holiday photo. It also makes a great gift for family and friends. The folk-style photo holder is an easy and fun-to-do design that is perfect for beginners, and […]
When Hollywood execs descended on the Canadian city of Victoria, BC, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that local artists could provide the support needed to bring their latest film to life. In the made-for-television movie Pictures of Hollis Woods, Sissy Spacek portrays a retired art teacher with a passion […]
When using your brushes, NEVER walk away and leave paint in the brush. It’s a good habit to rinse a brush before you lay it down, even if only for a moment. Brush Care Do not reuse the plastic tube used on new brushes; this may bend the bristles beyond […]
These versatile tools have a wide range of carving uses By Roger Schroeder While purists will argue that files, rasps and rifflers, not to mention sandpaper, should never touch a wood carving, don’t sell these tools short. Many projects need a smooth surface, not a flat-plane or faceted one. These […]
Simple mixtures and techniques to create a variety of flesh colors By Lora S. Irish While there are a variety of pre-mixed paints to simulate different skin tones, I prefer to mix my own. That gives me complete control over the colors, highlights, and shadows. It also allows me to […]
Essential knowledge for a professional finish By Vicki Rhodes You’ve spent months getting each carved detail just right. Now it’s time to finish the piece and bring it to life with color. Many carvers find themselves hesitant to take the next step. To develop a suitable comfort level, you need […]
Staff and realistic snake are carved from a single piece of wood Many carvers approach this type of project using a vine wrapped branch or twisted root, but I sculpt the snake from an ordinary log. This allows the shape and contour of the snake to be planned, instead of […]
Modern woodturning masters embellish their work with carving The popularity of artistic woodturning has skyrocketed in the past decade. The modern masters featured in this article have combined turning with carving to create stunning compositions, of which the beautifully turned shape is only the beginning. J. Paul Fennell: Infinite piercing […]
