Everyone has their own style for beards and hair, but I struggle with how to make 'curly' beards like Nancy's Santa's. A couple of seminars I attended covered blocking out individual locks and adding texture which is a different look than straight. I still would like more of a curl look. Any tips and step by step instructions? Or maybe a book suggestion for tips?
Thank you-
Barry Bowers

One of the best Study Guides is Harold Enlow's 'Hairball'.
It is a resin casting of many of his styles of carving hair.
It also comes with instructions.

[Colin_Partridge]

Barry,.
Jeff Phares has a book in his series on carving hair really good book. The name of the book is 'Carving Ears and Hair. I have the book and refer to it often as you may guess with my tree spirits there are a lot of beards and hair.
Colin

Thanks for the tips - I'll see if I can turn my semi-straight hair into curls.
Barry

Barry, may I also suggest you check out the message board in the Holiday Carvings section, about half-way down the page under the heading 'Re-made Santa' by Nancy G, she mentions just how she does her beards, which are fantastic, be sure to look up her pic's too, you'll be amazed with her 'beards/curls'. Good luck....Coffeeman

[Nancy_G]

I just 'made-up'/stumbled into : my method of doing curly beards and it's no secret. Coffeeman, thanks for finding that thread - I couldn't have located it.
For years I've been saying I'm going to do a page showing a step by step demo of my beards. It's not difficult and all it takes is a good woodburner and a set of Dockyard micro gouges. I PROMISE I'll get going on that soon.

Thanks Nancy- I'll give your method a try. I really like the look. Anything I've ever happened into never turned out to be good!
Barry

[Callynne]

Oh goody, can't wait to see the instructions for your beards Nancy. Your basket page is safely printed out, bound and kept with all my other great books!! Thanks.....in advance!! Callynne

[jamesfa]

I too will await your beard carving tutorial.maybe wood carving illustrated would do an article based on your method of carving beards.