Whats the best book or video on carving faces in your opinion?

[Veen]

I am looking for a great book or video on carving faces. There are lots and I have a limited amount of money so what is your best pick to buy first??
Appreciate the help.

[BobT]

Are you talking about realistic faces, or caricature faces? That will make a big difference in selections.
Bob

[doris]

i would recommend an art book featuring one of the great old masters, for example bernini, or michelangelo, or donatello, or riemenschneider... study one of these closely, how they shaped the face, and you learn more than by any step by step book, which only shows you one way of steps to achieve the result presented there, but it lets you alone, when you want carve a face like you wish to do it...this saying applies in my opinion to realistic, and to caricature (did you know da vinci has made drawings we would call caricatures today ?) ... just my opinion, it worked very well for me, i used only those books, from my first face on...

[ragiarn]

Originally Posted by doris

i would recommend an art book featuring one of the great old masters, for example bernini, or michelangelo, or donatello, or riemenschneider... study one of these closely, how they shaped the face, and you learn more than by any step by step book, which only shows you one way of steps to achieve the result presented there, but it lets you alone, when you want carve a face like you wish to do it...this saying applies in my opinion to realistic, and to caricature (did you know da vinci has made drawings we would call caricatures today ?) ... just my opinion, it worked very well for me, i used only those books, from my first face on...

To Doris's fine advice I would add Ian Norbury's book Carving Classic Female faces- step by step from block of wood to final touches.

Carving Classic Female Faces in Wood - A How-To Reference for Carvers and Sculptors

He also has an excellent DVD
Ian Norbury DVD CD

I have purchased a most of the available books on carvng faces and his is by far the best. in my opinion.

[Veen]

Thanks for the replies.
I mean realistic faces.. sorry.
Good advice Doris thanks. I also need to learn the techniques like what certain tools can do in certain areas that would only be found in a carving book or dvd. I find I learn much quicker if I see it being done on a dvd so maybe Ill check out the one you mention Doc. I cant really find many dvds on face carving.

[redhand rik]

i don't know if it's "the best" but it's my most recently acquired... Carving the human face carving character and expression in wood by Jeff Phares. costs about 25 frog skins @ woodcraft. in it he provides specific instructions every step of the way, he shows & tells what tools he uses to carve a sculpture quality NA face with wolfskin headdress. over 350 outstanding photos by Marc Featherly... from Fox Chapel Publishing Co... howzat for a plug?

[Veen]

Thanks for the replies.
How are the Jeff Phares books. Some of the reviews say the photos used are not to great (to close up). I would like to get some of his books?? What other books are good for mountain men and indian faces?

[Jim Hiser]

Originally Posted by Veen

Thanks for the replies.
How are the Jeff Phares books. Some of the reviews say the photos used are not to great (to close up). I would like to get some of his books?? What other books are good for mountain men and indian faces?

If you get Jeff's first book that Redhand suggested you won't be disaponted with that book. The pictures are nice and sharp. Jeff's other books leave a lot to be desired they have good information but the photograhy is a big let down.

[Veen]

Thanks for the replies.
I think there probably has to be some overlap in his books and the first one will cover alot. Anyone read these as well?? How are they??

Carving the Native American Face (A Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers) by Terry Kramer and Douglas Congdon-Martin
or

Carving the Historic Western Face by Robert E. Lundy