When Zulu women potters innovate or move to a more urban setting, they are asked why they have abandoned tradition. Yet when they continue to follow convention or choose to stay in rural areas, art historians speak of their work as unchanging symbols of the past. Burnished rejects both stereotypes, acknowledging the agency of rural women as innovative artists and complex individuals negotiating a biased set of power structures. Featuring 90 color images, Burnished engages directly with individual artists and specific vessels, fracturing assumptions that Zulu ceramicists are resistant to rural transformation and insulated from urban realities. Elizabeth Perrill shares compelling narratives of women ceramic artists and the sophisticated beer pots they create—their aesthetic choices, audiences, production, and artistic lives. Simultaneously, Perrill documents the manner in which and reasons why ceramic arts, and at times the artists themselves, capitalize upon bucolic stereotypes of rural womanhood, are constrained by artistic methods, or chafe against definitions of what qualifies as a Zulu pot. Revealing how white South Africans and global art gatekeepers have continually twisted the designation of Zulu ceramics before, during, and after apartheid, Burnished provides an engaging look at the artistry of entrepreneurial Black women too often erased from historical records.

With breathtaking photographs of live birds of prey and step-by-step pictures, paint charts and finished carvings. Bill Veasey presents well-organized instructions for wood carvers. The following ten projects are shown in great detail: Gray and Red Screech Owls, Saw-Whet Owl, Snowy Owl, Osprey, American Kestrel, female Merlin, miniature flying Peregrin Falcon. Antiqued Goshawk, and Red-Tailed Hawk. Color paint charts present the special blendings of pigments to accurately paint these as well as a variety of other species of eagles, hawks, Harrier, and owls.

Using both hand and power tools, Dale leads you happily through the process of carving a realistic howling coyote make the process a delight. You will not only learn how to carve the coyote, but will also learn how to lay in the coyote's hair pattern with a combination of carving and wood burning tools. Painting your coyote in authentic regional colors is discussed as well. When you are finished, Dale will show you how to mount your coyote in a natural surrounding. As if that were not enough, Dale also guides you through carving a rabbit realistic enough to attract the attention of any coyote! Gallery photographs provide informative perspectives on the coyote and rabbit alike. Group shots with several different coyotes are provided to inspire you to new heights of creativity.

The first comprehensive book for carvers of aquatic animals! It includes practical tips for carvers as well as the anatomic and behavioral information vital to their search for realism. Detailed drawings, patterns, and photographs of the animals in their natural environments fill the book. In addition, examples of Howards wood sculpture are offered as models and inspirations. This book will inspire you to create your own original designs. Included are the Great White Shark, the Tiger Shark, the Manta Ray, the Spotted Eagle Ray, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, the American Alligator, the Great Sperm Whale, the Orca, the Bottlenose Dolphin, the West Indian Manatee, and the Humpback. In addition to general carving considerations, there are special carving/sculpting suggestions for each of animals. For the Humpback Whale, detailed photographs and captions document each step of the sculpting. These can be readily adapted to other subjects.

Whether in the wild in warm tropical waters or in domestic waters of a home aquarium, the variety and beauty of exotic fish fill their observers with awe. Portraying that beauty in wood is one of the specialities of Margaret Streams, who shares her secrets with other carvers in this new book. Using a combination of power and traditional tools she shows, step-by-step, the techniques of carving, painting and mounting that have won her numerous prizes. The book explains the carving of three varieties: the Red Crane fish, the Fresh Water Angelfish, and the Long-Nosed Butterfly Fish. Each step is illustrated with a color photograph and a concise description of the technique involved. Patterns and background information are also included, as well as a gallery of other fish Margaret has carved. This is a great book for carvers of all levels, and presents a new and interesting area of endeavor.

Here is an assortment of carving projects unlike any other! This book captures the magic and fun of a street-corner band, with eight different personalities jamming away, heart and soul, for passers-by. The whimsical characters are irresistable-you'll want to clap your hands and sing along with them. Al guides the reader step-by-step through the carving of "Hurricane" Brown, the saxophone player for this wonderful ensemble, from using the pattern, to carving the figure, to painting and finishing it. In addition to the actual project instructions, some very helpful tips and techniques are presented in the introductory section. Beginning and advanced carvers alike will learn a great deal from Al's many years of carving experience! A colorful gallery introduces you to other members of the band and a chapter of patterns provides the specifics for carving all eight characters.

Wooden pins make wonderful handmade gifts and can be carved in a minimum of space with small equipment. Here, accomplished woodcarver and teacher Mary Finn guides readers through the creation of five colorful designs: a sunflower, cardinal, bunny, Santa, and rose. Mary suggests ideas for developing pin designs as well as methods for creating blanks that can be used many times. Step-by-step instructions and color photography present the process of carving the blank, adding texture and other details, painting, finishing, and attaching a pin to the back. Whether you want a dainty pin for your best friend, a funky pin for your little sister, or a bolo for your favorite uncle, this book will provide the tips and techniques for creating just the right look.

Once you finish carving your first gnome, the little guy will surely want you to carve some more elfin friends for him! It's a good thing Al Streetman has included 15 different patterns for well-dressed elves and gnomes of all shapes and sizes--drawn up with the beginner in mind, but with plenty of potential for the experienced carver's creativity to build on. With step-by-step instructions and color photography, Al demonstrates how to carve and paint the first project from start to finish. He also provides some helpful general advice about technique, finer details, and painting; his reference charts are handy for any carving. A full-color gallery of finished projects will bring a smile to your face and a spark to your imagination. His laid-back style and straightforward techniques make Al Streetman a pleasure to carve with--enjoy!

One of the most sought-after and respected carvers of wooden Santa figures shares 20 new and delightful patterns. Al Streetman takes the reader step-by-step through the carving of a "windblown Santa," holding a lantern and grasping a walking stick as he tries to make his way through a Christmas eve storm. This and other whimsical creations offer hours of fun, challenge, and creativity to carvers of all ability levels. In addition, for carver who wish to sell their work, Santas have a proven marketability among Christmas collectors. The carving steps are illustrated with clear color photographs and precise instructions. The patterns offer at least two views of each of the 20 Santas. In addition, Al provides hints from his many years of carving experience and teaching, secrets that are invaluable to both the novice carver and the professional, including some tips and tricks for arm and hand carving and multi-part construction techniques. This method lets you make maximum use of grain direction, in order to save valuable wood from being wasted, and to make the carving easier. This is a welcome addition to the carver's library and joins the long list of Al Streetman's other popular and successful carving instruction books.

This book is jammed full of photographs, patterns, drawings, hints, details, notes and ideas concerning the Bolinger's playful and entertaining Halloween carving creations. Detailed, step-by-step instructions are provided for carving and painting two ghostly projects-- "The Ghost with the Most" and "Lon Gone." Accompanying the concise instructions are over 190 color photographs. Aside from instructing readers in their carving and painting techniques, Paul and Camille also provide patterns for five Halloween figures and close to 100 drawings of design details. This book is sure to be a terrific reference and source of inspiration for all carvers from the bare-bones beginner to the monstrously advanced.

Wire and canvas decoys were popular around the Eastern shore of Virginia and the Carolinas near the turn of the 20th century. Because an abundance of good carving wood was not handy, decoy makers in this region used ingenuity to create clever replicas of large birds such as the Canada Goose. This book includes patterns for ten different breeds, a colorful gallery, helpful reference charts, and a lot of tried-and-true advice for carvers motivated to take on these projects, or to design their own. Al Streetman guides the reader step-by-step through making one of these wire and canvas decoys, through constructing the body and carving the head, to painting the finished project. He even demonstrates how to antique the decoy for an elegant weathered look.

Jointed dolls are an ancient concept. As a folk art in the American Appalachians and elsewhere, Dancing Sams have used the jointed idea to create a dancing motion when moved by a vibrating board for hundreds of years. When Tom Wolfe was visiting the British Museum in London, he came upon an Egyptian doll that was constructed just like the Santas in this book. The jointed Santas in this book are delightful. They can be easily posed and made to do a variety of things. And they are easily carved, following the step-by-step color photo illustrations. From the carving to the joint construction to the painting, Tom makes it easy for even the novice to carve these Santas. The more advanced carver will also enjoy the carving. In addition to the Santa carved in the book, there are patterns for 8 other jointed Santas, plus a nice sleigh for Santa to ride in. The gallery photos give perspectives on each of the carvings, an invaluable aid to the carver.

Once again Tom Wolfe brings his artistry, skill, and wit to the mythic figures of bygone days: The Wild West. Taken separately, the cowboy, gambler, bartender, sheriff, and soiled dove offer interesting challenges to the carver. Together they make an enchanting scene, interacting with each other and almost magically taking on a life of their own. Fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions from the blank to the painted figure.

Airbrushing is gaining popularity among carvers of decoys and waterfowl. Since 1987 Veasey Studios, under the supervision of Michael Veasey, has sealed, undercoated, and accomplished the basic color blending on approximately 40,000 carvings using the airbrush. In this great new book you will see just how easy it really is to use. With step-by-step instructions, you will move from the beginning to finishing a drake and hen teal duck. When you are finished you will find that the airbrush, when used in conjunction with traditional brush techniques, will add to your joy of carving and the quality of your work.

In hobby stores around the country there are resources for woodcarvers that are often overlooked. A great variety of shapes are turned from sugar pine, which make perfect blanks for woodcarving creations. In this new book, Kelley Stadelman transforms these blanks into Christmas figures. Illustrated with step-by-step color photographs, she carves a rotund Santa and stately tree. In addition she includes a gallery with several of the other possibilities that can be wrought from the turned blanks. Kelley came to carving from the world of tole painting and offers some of the techniques of that craft to the reader. They add a detail and charm to the finishing of the carvings that will delight and enrich your abilities. A perfect book for the person who carves for the sheer joy of it!

One of America's favorite carvers brings seven new step-by-step Santa projects to his many fans, old and new. These Santas have special interests including golf, fishing, and skiing, among others. As always Ron Ransom makes the carving easy, interesting, and fun.

Clowns are the ideal subjects for caricature carvers. They give the carver a limitless variety of faces and situations to create. The only boundaries are the carver's ability and imagination, and the realities of the human form. Like all of us, clowns are complex figures, happy and sad, comic and tragic, all at the same time. Because they capture both sides of us, the clown has been a powerful figure through many years of human history. One clown is carved from beginning to end, with each step illustrated to help the carver. Most of the figures are in various comic settings and the gallery has several different clowns in various situations. Also included is a brief section on carving the letters used to label the pieces. This book promises hours of enjoyment and challenge for woodcarvers of all abilities.

Elijah Pierce (1892-1984) was born the youngest son of a former slave on a Mississippi farm. He began carving at an early age when his father gave him his first pocketknife. Pierce became known for his wood carvings nationally and then internationally for the first time in the 1970s. Accompanying a major exhibition at the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, this publication seeks to revisit the art of Elijah Pierce and see it in its own right, not simply as 'naive'. Elijah Pierce made his living as a barber; he was also a qualified preacher. Just as his barber shop was a place for gossip and meeting, so his art reflects his own and his community's concerns, but also universal themes. Through his carvings Pierce told his own life story and chronicled the African-American experience. His subjects ranged from politics to religious stories but he seldom distinguished the race of his figures - he thought of them as everyman. His secular carvings show his love of baseball, boxing, comics and the movies, and also reflect his appreciation for American heroes who fought for justice and liberty. In 1932, Pierce completed 'the Book of Wood', which he considered his best work. Originally carved as individual scenes, the completed 'Book' tells the story of Jesus carved in bas-relief. He and his wife Cornelia held "sacred art demonstrations" to explain the meaning of the Book of Wood. Pierce's work was first appreciated in the art world thanks to a fellow sculptor, Boris Gruenwald, who saw the expressive power of his work. As a later critic wrote, "There are 500 woodcarvers working today in the United States who are technically as proficient as Pierce, but none can equal the power of Pierce's personal vision". Pierce became known primarily in circles promoting 'naive' art, winning first prize at the International Meeting of Naive Art in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in 1973. The vast majority of his work is now held in Columbus, Ohio, which had become his home town. This book revisits Pierce's art seeking to see it in its own right, and not simply as 'naive'. Another critic wrote: "He reduces what he wants to say to the simplest forms and compositions. They are decorative, direct, bold and amusing. He uses glitter and all kinds of devices to make his message clear. It gives his work an immediacy that's very appealing" - an appeal arising from a sophisticated art with its own particular voice.

Having an Al Streetman book is liking having your own personal carving instructor sit down on the back porch with you. His easygoing Oklahoma ways and his patient, soothing voice are evident in the simple instructions, as though he were right there with you, carving blade in hand, leading you through the simple step-by-step task of characterization. And that's where the Streetman's true brilliance lies-he is a master of the character, and this book is rich with them. There are 30 patterns, with something for every holiday of the year, in here. Streetman's instructions, clear photos, and meticulously drawn patterns will make an expert of beginners, and offer experts a challenge. Many people simply trace his well-drawn patterns on thin flat board or cardboard and paint them for tree ornaments.

As the days get longer and the sun rises higher and warmer, the signs of Spring begin to appear. One of those signs is the friend of every child, the Easter Bunny. Like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny is the bearer of gifts, fancy eggs, sweet candy, and warm, cuddly stuffed animals, to celebrate the joy of Easter morning. Tom Wolfe brings his creativity and skill to this beloved character, and shares it with his readers in clear step-by-step, color illustrated instructions. And, because no bunny is complete without his eggs, Tom offers a simple technique for creating beautiful Easter eggs using commercially produced blanks, a woodburner, and paint. Included is a gallery of many bunny "humanimals." These wonderful creations, carry a great deal of the emotion and charm, and will be wonderful additions to the carver's repertoire. This is a great book for carvers of all skill levels. Everyone, from the beginner to the veteran, will enjoy its delightful projects.

Using hand tools and the lathe, a master furniture builder takes the readers step-by-step through the process of building a tavern table. Beginning with raw lumber, they will learn the techniques of joining, mortise and tenon construction, turning, and finishing in authentic early American fashion. Following this basic guide, even a novice can build a table of which they will be proud. Each step is illustrated and line drawings are provided. Jim Rendi shares the techniques and skills of the colonial table maker and shares it with his readers. A gallery at the end of the book shares other styles of tables that use much the same methods.

This book explores the ways in which medieval Christians sought to memorialize the deceased: with tombs, cenotaphs, altars and other furnishings connected to a real or symbolic burial site. Reverent memorial for the dead was the inspiration for the production of a significant category of artworks during the Middle Ages - artworks aimed as much at the laity as at the clergy, and intended to maintain, symbolically, the presence of the dead. Memoria, the term that describes the formal, liturgical memory of the dead, also includes artworks intended to house and honour the deceased. A dozen essays analyze strategies for commemoration from the 4th - 15th century: the means by which human memory could be activated or manipulated through the interaction between monuments, their setting, and the visitor. Building upon from the growing body of literature on memory in the Middle Ages, the collection focuses on the tomb monument and its context as a complex to define what is to be remembered, to fix memory, and to facilitate recollection. The papers were originally presented at the 1994 meetings of the College Art Association, the International Congresses of Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and the University of Leeds, England, in 1995.

Just when it seems that Tom could not possibly have any more Santa patterns, here are 75 never before seen designs. They reflect Tom's unquenchable creativity, his boundless sense of humor, and his keen eye for caricature. Each pattern is clearly drawn and reproduced at full size. A color gallery is included on the back of the book to use as a paint reference.

Follow along with Steve Brown as he takes the traditional kaleidoscope to another level with these delightful "Collide-A-Scope" woodcarvings. Using over 250 color photographs, Steve provides thorough step-by-step instructions for creating a striking wizard figurine with an actual kaleidoscope installed inside. Woodcarvers will find valuable information on starting with a roughout, detailed carving and painting techniques, and installation of the kaleidoscope kit. Patterns and measurements for the wizard and other figurines are provided for those who wish to cut their own blanks. The patterns include an Old World Santa, Uncle Sam, Fireman Santa, and a Santa Rocket. All are shown in finished form in the gallery, along with a chip carved Collide-A-Scope. Put your imagination in gear and let's start creating new and wonderful kaleidoscope carvings!

Following the tremendous success of his first book, Tom Wolfe now offers his most popular wood-carving with step-by-step instructions. Tom attributes the popularity of his Pig Pickin' carving to nostalgia. This work harkens people back to a simpler time, when the hog harvest was a community event. Everyone shared in the festivities...and the food. Tom makes the directions clear and each step is illustrated with a photograph. Because the book starts with the bandsawing of the pattern and continues through the painting, even a novice should be able to complete the project. At the same time, the seasoned carver will benefit from Tom's technique and expertise, and everyone will enjoy Tom's anecdotes about country life.