Using oil based clay, Dale Power takes the reader through all the steps needed to sculpt human heads and complete animal figures in clay. Instructive line drawings show the proper positioning of features on the human face and three different eye treatments. Two techniques for sculpting human heads are illustrated. For added clarity, every step is accompanied by color photographs. Patterns for two armatures on which to fashion human heads and patterns for two articulated animal frames are also provided. A color gallery gives the reader a final look at finished pieces and presents additional figures to fire the imagination. This book is a valuable reference for anyone wishing to work in clay.

With a combination of simple instructions and over 220 clear color photographs, Dale Power takes readers step-by-step through the process of creating beautiful wooden traveling canes with power tools. Detailed directions are provided for the creation of eye-catching cane handles, the installation or creation of screw mounts to join the two cane shaft segments, and for finishing the completed canes with stain. A color gallery of finished canes is provided for further study. This book will prove to be a rewarding challenge for the novice power tool carver and an inspiration for more experienced craftsmen.

Dale Power leads you step-by-step through the process of carving a robust and realistic polar bear. Complete, concise instruction and detailed color photographs make the carving of this bear an enjoyable task for the novice and advanced carver alike. Dale approaches the carving with a combination of hand and power tools, giving good advice in both techniques. Once carved, Dale illustrates techniques to burn and paint the details that give your bear a very natural look. Four original patterns for polar bears, grizzlies and brown bears are included as well. The gallery photographs provide detailed and instructive perspective on these bears from different regions of the world. The character and personality of each bear comes through in these photos.

Here's a step-by-step finishing school, featuring 14 different techniques for refining your wood surfaces. All of the tools and methods needed to successfully change the image of any wooden surface are provided. More than 200 color photographs accompany the text. In addition, there are instructions for restoring damaged finishes. The projects are arranged in order, from the most basic to the very advanced, and a color gallery provides a final look at all of the finishes. This book is an invaluable resource for everyone wishing to finish their wood up right.

All of the techniques necessary for capturing the sleek beauty and strength of dolphins and whales in wood are presented here. In direct and basic language and color photographs Dale Power takes the carver through each step in the process of creating a dolphin from basswood with a combination of hand and power tools. Once the dolphin is carved, woodburning and painting techniques are explored in detail to add life to the work. Helpful hints for mounting the finished work are included as well. Patterns for three dolphins and two whales are provided as well as a color gallery showing a variety of dolphins and whales in groupings which are sure to inspire. With full color illustrations and explicit directions, this book is invaluable to both the novice and the experienced carver.

The complex blend of comedy and threat in the mounts on early American carousels still fascinates children and adults. For those who want to create that antique animal charm, Dale Power provides direct instructions and 267 color photographs illustrating all the steps necessary to transform a simple basswood blank into an impressive carousel goat like those that might have adorned carousels built between 1860 and 1930. Dale uses a variety of hand and power tools to complete his projects. Once the carving is complete, wood burning, painting, and mounting techniques are discussed which will bring your carousel animal to life. Patterns for seven additional, uncommon carousel animals and a color gallery are provided to further inspire carvers. With a combination of straightforward instructions and full color illustrations, this book will be a valued addition to the libraries of novice and advanced carvers alike.

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 adult male elk stand roughly five feet high at the shoulder, weighs nearly eleven hundred pounds and can run at speeds up to thirty-five miles per hour. Dale Power captures this powerful animal single-handedly, with wood carving tools! Discover all the techniques you'll need to "capture" a realistic looking elk of your own in wood from this book. Step-by-step instructions make carving the elk, with a combination of hand and power tools, an easy task. Over 250 color photographs illustrate each technique and tip along the way. Useful methods for changing the positioning of the elk are included. You'll also learn how to burn in the hair pattern, paint your creation in natural colors and how to mount it on a base. Patterns for two elk are included. The gallery photos provide perspectives of the animal carved and of additional elk in several poses to fire the carver's imagination.

Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. Their beautiful, sinuous bodies allow them to reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Dale Power guides the novice and veteran carver through the process of capturing the beauty, speed and grace of these amazing animals in basswood with a combination of hand and power carving tools, wood burning equipment and paints. Step-by-step instructions, well illustrated with color photographs, simply and pleasurably guide the carver through each phase of the process. Details, including musculature, tear lines and tail rings, are included to give your cheetah a natural look. Patterns for three cheetahs walking, running and at rest are included. The gallery provides inspirational perspectives on the cheetah carved and several others to fire the imagination.

Dale Power departs from his usual animal carvings, burying himself in a new art form-the manufacture of special boxes for pets and people. Here's one project you won't want to put off till tomorrow. All of the tools and techniques needed to produce strong and beautiful coffins are presented here in clear, concise language. Color photographs illustrate every step in the construction of three pet-size and three human-size coffins. Detailed patterns are provided and different box construction techniques are revealed. One box design even doubles as a beautiful blanket chest or coffee table. Once the coffins are built, the discussion turns to the many moldings, appliques, linings, and finishes which may be used to make each coffin unique. A color gallery is also provided. With full color illustrations and detailed instructions, this book is a challenge to the novice and a joy for the experienced craftsman.

This book presents a variety of box making techniques, illustrating every step taken in over 260 color photographs. The projects range from the simple to the complex. The techniques necessary for creating simple band saw boxes are discussed first. The projects become more complex as the book continues, exploring several different joints available to box makers, including mitered corners, rabbet, spline, and false spline joints. Instructions for successfully cutting loose lids and hinging them are also provided. Following the discussion of box assembly, Dale guides the reader through several different finishes available to make your own boxes stand out among the rest. Finally, a gallery with many different box types is provided to fire the imagination of every wood worker. The novice will find this book challenging, but rewarding, and the seasoned wood worker will enjoy the details.