A clay model is a helpful tool to use when planning a carving By Ross Oar The composition for this carving was inspired by two events more than 40 years apart. The first was my service in the Navy from 1958-1960 as a torpedo man aboard the USS McCaffery. The second […]
Power carving offers many benefits and retains many of the same qualities as handtooled carvings By Jack Kochan Ornaments never seem to lose their popularity, especially ones carved from wood. The angel design, which I modified, originally came from an old magazine. The Santa was a piece of commercial art in […]
Take a look at some classic cookie molds and design your own relief projects with a purpose By Mark Weinstein Gene Wilson was a college biology professor vacationing at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia when he first noticed old world-quality, wood-carved cookie molds in a bakeshop. Shortly after that, he and […]
This practice egg is an ideal first project for beginners and a beneficial exercise for experienced carvers By Jean Boyd This practice egg is the first project that I teach my beginning students. While it appears to be simple, and repetitive work is required to get the shape, you also […]
Handtools bring intimacy to a full-bodied piece of folk art By Bob Buyer Many of my students enjoy the little black duck project. A full-bodied yet miniature decoy, this duck can be carved with just the essential anatomical features of eyes, bill details, and slightly raised primaries, making it a […]
Your fridge will be the cat’s meow with this adorable fridge magnet Design by David Sabol Refrigerator magnets are popular craft items, particularly those that are carved. I enjoy felines, especially when they’re up to some mischief. Going after a goldfish fits the bill. A piece of 3/4″ (19mm)-thick white […]
An artistic presentation flows easily with rotary bits and a good paint job By Wanda Marsh The American bald eagle is a joy to carve. An enduring and majestic symbol of freedom, the bird captures our attention whether we see it in flight or sculpturally presented at a carving show […]
There’s much to learn from professional woodcarver Ian Norbury, whose carvings are in collections all over the world. “I don’t sell woodcarvings,” Ian Norbury declares emphatically. A quizzical statement from a man who has been a professional woodcarver for over 25 years, until he completes the thought: “I sell dreams […]
This October, showcase your carving skills with something special for Halloween Here are ten hot tips for people using woodcarving tools to relief-carve a pumpkin: 1. For most pumpkin carvings, select a tall, elongated pumpkin because it is easier to develop the pitch of the face in the horizontal plane. […]
Whether pushed or pulled, these tools rank high as wood removers By Roger Schroeder As a woodcarver, you know that the game plan is to remove wood. A sharp knife can’t be beat for a small project in softwoods. For large hardwood pieces, chisels, gouges, V tools and power tools […]
