For Eyes, Noses and Mouths
'Carving Egg Heads' by Mary Finn pub. Schiffer
Contrary to the books title, the emphasis of 2/3's of the book is on doing study sticks of the above mentioned. Each step is explained and well illustrated.

Ears
'Carving Caricature Figures from Scratch' by W. Pete LeClair pub. Schiffer

Both are orientated toward Caricature carving, but the methods could be easilly adapted to realistic.

Where to get them?? I got the LeClair book from 'LittleShavers' and the Finn book was a gift so don't know, but suspect it's available from the same place.

[icarve2003]

Hi Ed,

Can you recommend any good books on woodspirits. I've enver done one but I'd like to try it.

Chris

Chris,

I don't know about books but here are a few of my favorite woodspirit resources on the web.

http://www.wilkersonwoodcarving.com/nlctarchive202.htm

http://www.carvingpatterns.com/wooda...woodspirit.htm

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/jjellie...e/Page3D2.html

http://www.oldjoe.org/WoodSpirit1.html

http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vo...Wispinski.html

[icarve2003]

Wow Clifford, those are great links. Thanks for posting them. I'm going to have to bookmark them too. I've come across one of them before while 'surfing'. I'm amazed at how much info. there is out there if you know where to look.

Thanks again,
Chris.

Chris,

You are very welcome, as I have said before, I'm mostly self taught so have had to do a lot of web searches and ask a lot of questions on the lists to find the info I needed.

icarve - I love wood spirits, every Santa I try to carve ends up being a wood spirit. The reason I like them so much is that there are no rules. Pick a piece of wood and whatever it will let you do; go for it. Don't fight the wood, go with the flow. Found wood is best, my particular favorite is juniper (called cedar here in Texas). With that in mind, about any book on the subject is o.k. One inexpensive one is 'How to Carve Faces in Driftwood' by Harold Enlow ($7.50 about). Tom Wolfe has several out at about $12.95 each. I think the best for the money is 'Tom Wolfe Carves Woodspirits and Walking Sticks.' Reason I like it is you get walking sticks included for the same price and it includes a nice picture gallery at the end.

[Colin_Partridge]

Chris,
Woodspirits are my life, thats what I carve 95% of the time. You are not that far away from me I live in Thornton a small town about 10km south of Barrie. If you would like to stop in some time when you are up this way we could share some ideas.
Colin

[icarve2003]

Colin,

Thank you very much for the invitation. I just may be up that way sometime during the summer. If I am, I just may drop by. I would love to see some of your work. The pictures you've posted are great but I would love to see some of those woodspirits close up.

I'll let you know ahead of time if I'll be in your area.

Thanks again Colin!

Chris

[Kenny_S]

Chris,
I have the,'How to carve faces in driftwood by Harold L Enlow. About 53 pages and has about 10 different examples and detailed context on each one. I carved several on walking staffs and driftwood. Has how to hunt driftwood also. My pronlem was, I got so much driftwood one time that I was to tired to carry it back to the up Truck(pickup truck). Then the little bride got upset that I had all of this driftwood.
Anuways, Hope it helps.
Thanks cilff for the links.

Ken

[icarve2003]

Hey, now that is something I'd like to read, how to hunt driftwood. I can never seem to find that stuff. I found a bunch one time when we took the kids to the lake for the day. I started picking it up and putting it in the basket on my daughters stroller, that is until my wife saw me. Why can 't they appreciate the importance of good drift wood? :

Anyway, she let me bring some home but I wish I had room for more. I haven't been able to find any since then.