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!

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.

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.

Drawing from the ancient art of Asian brush painting, Craig Vandall Stevens introduces a unique form of chip carving to the hobbyist. With clean flowing lines the knife creates delicate images in wood, relying on the play of the grain and light to bring the images to life. These make beautiful wall hangings on their own, or can be used as a decoration on plates boxes, and screens. Craig goes step-by-step through the carving, beginning with an introduction to the tools and the wood. Two projects are included with clear color photographs and concise descriptions of the carving technique. The pattterns are included as is a gallery of variations and applications.

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.

Gargoyles are an architectural feature designed to throw rainwater clear of the walls of a building. Widely used on medieval churches, these water spouts were often richly decorated, and fashioned as serpents' heads and other fanciful shapes. Today, the term gargoyle is also popularly applied to any carved decorative head or creature high up on a building and this book is an exploration of all of these enchanting features. Written by an academic and stonecarver, it is the perfect introduction to this fascinating subject.
"Gargoyles" aims to provide a concise introduction to the stone carvings often found on religious and secular buildings in Britain from the medieval period to the modern. It will explore the typical imagery, some of the theories put forward to explain them, as well as consider the carvings within their architectural and social contexts. Incorporating recent and current research, the book will nevertheless be accessible to the general reader.

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.

Tall tales, local legends, and personal ruminations are transformed into folk figures by Frank Russell. Follow his detailed instructions with photographs and project plans to create nine delightful folk figures in wood. Accompanying the stories and projects are comprehensive instructions for carving small details of hands, feet, clothing and shoes. Frank introduces the reader to the power tools, techniques, and painting schemes required to create these characters in wood. Many hours of challenges and enjoyment for carvers at all skill levels are to be found in this text.

Italian Renaissance 'plaquettes' are often stored and displayed as a homogeneous category or genre in museum collections due to their apparently uniform small relief format. This has resulted in a scholarly literature that has concentrated largely on connoisseurship and taken the form of catalogues, thereby both responding to and propagating the myth of this classification. However, what is often forgotten, or buried deep in scattered catalogue entries, is that during the Renaissance this small relief format was regularly mass-produced and employed extensively in a variety of different contexts. Far from being a homogeneous category, plaquettes were originally viewed as many separate types of object, including pieces for personal adornment, liturgical objects, domestic artefacts, and models for architecture and painting. For the Renaissance consumer, the commission of a hat badge with a personal motto, the purchase of an off-the-shelf inkwell or the acquisition of a small relief for his study were separate concerns. The aim of this book is to redress the balance by examining these reliefs in terms of their use, alongside broader issues regarding the status of such objects within visual, scholarly and artistic culture from the fifteenth century to the early sixteenth.

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.

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!

Netsuke have once again come to the fore in the popular imagination of the public. In part this is due to the phenomenal success of Edmund De Waals 2010 book, Hare with the Amber Eyes, which highlights a treasured netsuke collection that was challenged by war and the vicissitudes of time. Intricately carved from various materials including ivory, wood and metal, these small toggles served a practical purpose in Japan: a netsuke was used to fasten a mans sash, an integral part of Japanese costume. Up until the seventeenth century netsuke were relatively insignificant objects that were rarely of artistic interest, but as time passed they evolved in terms of both materials and workmanship, and were then used by men to flaunt their wealth or as an expression of status. Today netsuke are considered an art form in their own right and are prized by collectors around the world. They are found in a variety of forms and depict a wide range of subjects including figures of human and legendary form, ghosts, animals, botanical subjects and masks. Skilfully worked, these miniature carvings are of great artistic value, but they also provide a window into Japanese culture and society. This book brings together one hundred of the most beautiful and interesting netsuke from the extensive collection of the British Museum, each of which has its own special charm and story to tell. Uncovering the stories behind these netsuke and coupling them with stunning new photography, this book reveals why these tiny objects have captivated so many, the meaning they have held for those who wore them, and what they can tell us about Japanese everyday life.

Wherever you are in America you see the influence of the Cape Cod sign. The incised carved letters glistening with gold leaf make a warm invitation to home or business. The decorative carved shells or scrolls reveal the carver's art. Among the most respected and talented carvers is Paul White of E. Sandwich, Massachusetts. He has received national recognition in both the carving and sign-making worlds, and has taught hundreds of students over the years. In this wonderful new book he takes the reader step-by-step through the process of carving a quarterboard, beginning with the layout of the letters and pattern, and continuing through the gilding. A complete alphabet is included so you can create your own sign. There is also a gallery to help the carver develop his or her own design. Each step is illustrated in full color, with concise instructions that make this an invaluable book for both the novice and experienced carver.

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.

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.

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.

Bamboo, bemoaned by many as a runaway weed, is treasured in many cultures around the world for its strength, durability, and versatility. This book illustrates ways in which any person capable of using a saw, rasp, screwdriver, and chisel can set about to create beautiful furnishings and useful accessories for the home. Patience, practice, and the application of sharp tools, hot glue, and accurate measurements, promise to enable you to make your own creations. Illustrations and basic instructions for bamboo tables, chairs and seats, bedroom furniture, hall racks and stands, cabinets and bookcases, window blinds, and many other articles are provided, along with a thorough primer on the tools and techniques for working this fast-growing grass. Many designs are inspired by Asian models, very popular in today's decor.

Literally a classroom-in-a-book, this engaging volume enables virtually anyone with a band saw, rotary power tool and a few of the most common cutting burrs to bring birds, fish, and even penguins to life beautifully! Professional artist-woodcarver Gene Larson demonstrates in words and pictures why he concentrates on simplicity of form, and how even a beginner can use a block of wood the way a sculptor would use a piece of marble. With a unique ability to reduce a complicated subject to its most basic components, Gene provides step-by-step guidance (from the wood block up) on the creation of shapes that have the look and "feel" of great works of art. Beginning with the selection of the right wood, stressing the simplicity that conveys and impression of so much more, and ending with a proper finish. Gene shows you how to create works he calls "sketches in wood." You and your friends will surely call them works of art.