Woodworking Books

Carving Classical Styles in Wood
by Frederick Wilbur

Join an expert craftsman on a full-color journey to see how classical motifs evolved through the Greek, Roman, Romanesque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical periods; and learn how to add exquisite period details to all your woodworking projects, too. Detailed carving instructions help you incorporate relief panels, bands, foliage, tablets, escutcheons, scrolls, cartouches, fans, sunbursts, shells, keystones, and finials into your own work. A final project chapter offers easy-to-follow examples of these elements brought together in the making of chests, benches, cabinets, and mirror frames. Plenty of photographs, practical guidance, and fascinating historical commentary will inspire woodworkers and interest students of art and those curious about the development of ornamental styles.

Extreme Pumpkin Carving
Second Edition Revised and Expanded
by Vic Hood & Jack Williams

20 Amazing Designs from Frightful to Fabulous

Create the best jack-o'-lantern on the block by taking a fresh approach to the old Halloween tradition! This book shows you how to use relief-carving techniques to create realistic features like cheeks, lips and eyebrows that really make your pumpkins come alive. Learn to carve 20 fun three-dimensional faces and scenes in solid pumpkins (no hollowing necessary) using tools ranging from kitchen knives to carving gouges and chisels. Complete information is provided for getting started, including an overview of tools and tips for finding the best pumpkin to work with.

Carving for Kids An Introduction to Woodcarving
by Robin Edward Trudel

The simple and beautiful art of woodcarving is adapted for children of all ages in this introduction to coaxing shapes and figures from solid blocks of wood. Requiring only a few tools and some inspiration, the projects in this collection are perfectly suited to building the skills it takes to work with wood. Safety and adult supervision are emphasized, but children will be able to complete the age-appropriate designs all by themselves. The graded projects range from carving a name stamp—for the youngest woodworkers—to carving a face—for teenaged craftspeople. The book also touches on computer-aided pattern-making, teaching children who face learning challenges, and methods for instructing kids of each age group—from elementary through high school. With its quick results and cumulative skill-building, learning to carve fosters hand-eye coordination and confidence as young carvers turn out unique handicrafts.

Carving the Human Face
by Jeff Phares

Chronicling all the stages in creating a realistic human face from wood, and illustrated with detailed photographs of more than 20 finished carvings, this book offers a wealth of technical how-to information for woodworkers and artists. Helpful information includes advice on handling tools, tips for working wood to resemble the shape of skin and muscles, and hints on carving realistic hats and headdresses. Also included are more than 20 diagrams that explain facial anatomy and how it relates to carving masks and busts.

Elements of Woodcarving
by Chris Pye

Elements of Woodcarving offers ten projects that cover a wide range of both classical and modern subjects in relief and in the round. It takes you through the entire carving process stressing the importance of design, material, and technique, factors that must be understood to be successful at carving.

Complete Beginner's Woodcarving Workbook
by Mary Guldan

The ultimate resource for getting started in woodcarving! All you need to start a rewarding hobby in woodcarving is an x acto knife, some wood, and this book by famed woodcarving instructor, Mary Duke Guldan. With illustrated instructions and detailed patterns, this book will guide you through every step. Select from any of the fully detailed projects for carving sun, dogs, cherub and others. Finishing tips are also included.

Carving Fantasy Creatures
by Floyd Rhadigan

If you love caricature carving but are getting a little tired of cowboys and Santas, this book is for you! Inside this book, you?ll find 5 whimsical creatures just waiting to be released from wood. Follow along with popular woodcarving instructor and author, Floyd Rhadigan as he takes you?step by step?through carving and painting a fantasy dragons. Once you master the basic skills, you can move on to the additional 4 carving patterns that are included. From the reptilian knight to the gargoyle, you?ll have plenty of great creatures to carve!

Carving Fantasy & Legend Figures in Wood, Revised Edition by Shawn Cipa

Beginning and intermediate carvers will learn to create wonderful mythical creatures from wood with the patterns and projects in this book from noted author and carver Shawn Cipa. Carving Fantasy & Legend Figures in Wood, Revised Edition offers expert guidance for carving all the great creatures of legend, including wizards, dragons, faeries, mermaids, and more.

Two in-depth carving and painting demonstrations are each accompanied by dozens of step-by-step color photos. Detailed patterns and color reference photos are also provided for ten additional popular fantasy figures, including a unicorn, troll, gargoyle, phoenix, and gryphon. A basic introduction to woodcarving offers advice on using the proper tools, selecting wood and paint types, using patterns, and painting and finishing techniques.

History of Lovespoons Book
by David Western

For centuries, hand-carved wooden lovespoons have been used to demonstrate the deepest levels of love and affection. The history of this craft is steeped in rich tradition and symbolism. The carving of a lovespoon is a task that requires adept skill and concentration. These spoons showcase not only the carver?s innermost feelings, but also his ability to shape wood into the finest and most delicate lines possible.Inside History of Lovespoons, readers will learn how this beautiful and unique tradition came into being, and the significance of the symbols carved into almost every lovespoon handle. Filled with rich, vivid pictures of lovespoons from across Europe and Africa, and accompanied by their historical facts and legends, History of Lovespoons offers a highly engaging way to understand and appreciate this ancient romantic tradition.Gorgeous full-page photos, assembled from museums and collectors around the world, illustrate the beauty and detail of each lovespoon. A special chapter on lovespoon symbols takes an in-depth look at both traditional and modern lovespoons, examining the evocative symbols carved on their handles and explaining their significance and mystery to the reader.

Woodcarving: Tools, Material & Equipment, Volume 2
by Chris Pye

From preparatory drawings and modeling to the many finishes that make completed carvings glow, here’s how you go about creating the actual project. Learn the differences between soft and hard woods, how to deal with defects such as splitting and knots, and discover how grain, hardness, texture and durability figure into your work. Photos guide you along the way. This new edition in two volumes, fully revised and expanded with new colour photography throughout will ensure that this work continues to be the standard reference source on the subject. The second volume covers many vitally important woodcarving topics including drawing and modelling, finishing, holding work safely, design of the workplace, using power tools, useful supplementary tools and an invaluable section on wood itself.