[Gun]

I am getting into carving and am wondering what would be the best carving book for someone who is interested in carving mammals? I have been looking on amazon and on hastings websites and there is so many to choise from, any really good ones?

[Donna_T]

Gun,
Desiree Hajny probably has some of the best animal carving books, depending on which animals you want to do, although I personally don't like to woodburn as dark as she does. Frank Russell has a good book on using power to carve animals. If I remember right, if you suscribe to two years of Wood Carving Illustrated, you get a powercarving publication free.

I wrote you a message under the animal/bird section about some other ideas--including trying to find a woodcarving club and suscribing to woodcarving publications.

Donna T

[mdallensr]

Some of the best books are pretty specific. I've been carving aquatic animals, mostly mammals, and have a good book with many illustrations and patterns. There are good books on bears and other big game animals. Fox Chapel has a great selection and you can look through many carving books at a Woodcraft store if there's one near you. My best source has been our library and carving shows, since I can study them well enough to know if they're going to be useful. If you're sure of the book title, you can watch for it on ebay and save a few bucks.

You'll find books with lots of photos very helpful. Patterns are good, but you really need to know what that animals look like in real life, in different lighting, even different seasons. The view you seldom get in normal animal viewing or books is the 'plan' view, from directly overhead. It's fairly important to have that view if you intend to get the head shape and proportions right.

[squbrigg]

Might I suggest 'Elements of Woodcarving' by Chris Pye. I'm not a new carver, but I'm always reading and re-reading books to refresh my memory. Just finished this one and found it to be most informative. It stands out from the others.

Rick Butz's books are good as well. Comprehensive and easy to follow.

I suggest borrowning books from your local library at first, to find the one(s) that you think works best for you. They will bring in most anything via inter-library loan, and it reduces your cost of hit and miss, or other peoples opinions or favorites. Identify the ones you like then buy them. I have too many books that I've bought, sight unseen, and never looked at them again.

Good luck and happy carving.

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would love to have a carving book library, have very few really....but I do subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated, I belong to NWCA and a benefit is the Chip Chats magazine and I also subscribe to 'Carving' magazine....I highly recommend all three!

[mikeg]

Sliver,

Unlike you, I tend to be a collector(pack-rat if you ask my wife). When I was working at Barnes and Noble part time, I came accross a couple of carving books. That was what got me started carving.

Now, in addition to the couple dozen books on my shelves, I've got 3 coming that I ordered on-line this week from B&N using a gift card my sister gave me for my birthday. I've also got a more in transit from ebay auctions. Once they all come in I'll be up over 30. I don't know that I have a clear favorite though.

Now I just need to find the time to read them all! They are great for ideas though. But I would like to read them all more in depth when I get the chance. Believe it or not, I'm trying to cut down on the books I buy for a while. (Maybe it's time to start collecting more tools! )

In addition I get the 3 carving magazines you mentioned. They are a great source of ideas and information.

If you're ever in VT, you're welcome to peruse them. I've always believed in loaning books out since you can only look at one at a time! Of course, if all the books I've loaned out over the years came back at once, my wife would probably wring my neck since I've got more than 4 6' bookcases full as it is!

mikeg

[Gun]

Well here is proably a better question then. What about pattern books? It seams to me you can learn to carve for trial and error and maybe a few books but what would be a good animal carving pattern book?

Gun,

Tom Wolfe has a pattern book. I would suggest coloring books and wildlife drawing books also. You can get patterns from the coloring books. The drawing books provide great reference. I really like your thought about trial and error. I believe that to become a better carver, you must take risks and also make some mistakes.