[Paul_Guraedy]

Years ago……so far back it seems like a different lifetime…..I was a librarian and almost stayed in this career; but, that’s another story. Anyway, I have maintained a lifetime interest in books and have lately been contemplating the direction my “carving” library has taken. This has caused the “latent librarian” in me to wonder about books and our art…..leading me to ask:

Do you maintain a carving library?
I am approaching 200 volumes. Books and tools......never enough!

Do you collect books directly related to carving or is your collection more diverse?
I started out collecting “how to” books. In the past couple of years my purchases have gone in the direction of “how to” books on painting and drawing. But, most of my books are now in the area of reference (biology, physiology, anatomy, photo books on fur and feathers).

What periodicals are part of your carving library?
I have Chip Chats going back to the 1980’s, Wildfowl Carving going back to the early 1990’s and complete collections of Woodcarving Illustrated and Carving Magazine.

How do you use your library?
I enjoy looking back over the periodicals……it is amazing how far we have come! Mainly, my library is now for reference to aid in getting a carving correct. How many tail feathers does a peregrine have? How do I transition the fur from the neck, around the shoulder and onto the belly of a bear? What colors will make this piece look natural?

I have made my carving library available to the local carving club. Except for those books that are very costly or irreplaceable….these they are welcome to use but they stay in my carving studio.


So......how do you use your library?

[RussL.]

I have about 25 books directly related to carving (in whole or in part).
I use them for reference and inspiration.
I'd be pretty lost, carving-wise, without them.

RussL.

[doris]

very interesting topic, i hope many share their way with books :-)
i have some carving books,about 10 or so, how-to-books are not available in germany, only general advise-carving-books (very few, and i have them all). so i order carving books from england or usa via amazon... i have about 20 books on drawing, like to browse them... but most of my books related to carving are art books, about 30 i think, about sculptures, paintings, architecture, mostly of the periods renaissance, barock, rokoko. i use them mainly for my carving learning, in that i look how a problem i encounter in my project is solved by one of the old masters.... the how-to-books i have are fun, but i am rarely agreeing with the suggestedd ways to carve... we dont have carving periodicals here, so i dont have those either ......

[TedM]

Wow! A man after my own heart! I love books and have quite a collection on diverse themes. Like you, lately I have been collecting how-to's. My woodworking library, though growing, takes up about a third of my collection.

I buy very, very few new books. I prefer to seek them out, or them to find me, at yard sales, flea markets, etc. They seem to mean so much more when acquired this way.

I supplement my own library with access to extensive libraries at my woodworking, woodturning and carving clubs. As well, I visit my local city library several times a week.

One of my mottos has always been "The more input the better output" and what a better way to input than with books when you can't be doing the actual working?! It's much more convenient to read at the breakfast table than to whittle... though I have been known to do that too!

[bill#1]

You can never know it all, and never know too much when the subject of woodcarving comes up.
At last count several years ago, I have 42 carving related books plus several years worth of mags accumulated plus ones I have borrowed from the local library or from friends.

Bill#1

[brian bailey]

My name is ..... ...... and I'm a bookoholic !

I have woodworking books & magazines dating back to the 70's.

I also have several yrs. of Chip Chats from the 70's and 80's that were given to me. Also, quite a few WCI and Wood Carving issues.

Several years ago I took a drawing course at the local community college.

My drawing instructor, awoke a burning desire in me to futher my artistic abilities in drawing and carving. So any book that catches my interest in those areas are fair game. As a result my book shelves are a sagging.

I'm especially fond of books about the old masters and their work.

I just recently found that our local PBS station carries the late Bob Ross's "Joy of Painting" every week so I'm starting a dvd collection of his series too.

Paul, thanks for bringing up this topic.

[Canopener]

I have about 20 books on carving, mostly caricature. I also have about 10 years worth of Chip Chats stashed away and equal amount of WCI in numerical order from #5, in binders. I think it is safe to say I have a lifetime of ideas, projects and reference. I also really enjoy collecting clippings that strike my fancy; the best ones I hang up some where, stuff like an ear or prominant nose.
I find that books are much like tools. On the one hand you can never have too many; on the other hand, I found that I was actually using only a few favorites and some were counter productive and confusing my style of carving. That does not mean I do not have a wish list, I just try to be more selective.
I think Brian has a good idea in studying drawing and painting etc.
My favorite book is on the bench right now, and it is Master American Carver, Emil Janel. Always inspiring.
Jim

[torpidhummer]

Hello Paul, well now since I have always wanted to learn how to make or do something. I have large a collection "how to do" books" most (about 200 or so books & magazines) from building sheds,long bow making,leather carving,steam wood bending,every carving and wood burning books on the market. Boy Paul you sure started something close to my heart. I don't dare mention all the how to make quilts,cards and sewing books my wife has,guess what we read them all the time and we are still looking for new one. Man ole man who said retirement is boring?
Your friend down South California (car jungle).
Oscar

[DManning]

Hello Paul.
I too have a library of more carving books than I will ever get around to reading (cover to cover).
Every February, down here in Phoenix, there is a HUGE used book sale. People start lining up for it before 4:00 a.m. in hopes of getting in the first group to enter at 8:00 a.m.. Naturally the first section I hit is the one with all the carving and woodworking books. After the "feeding frenzy" of grabbing every book that looks interesting, I take my haul home and find...much to my embarassment...that a copy of some of the same books I just bought is already nestled on my shelf.
Since the purchase price at this sale is only a couple of bucks each, there's no great loss, but, I am quickly filling a box full of duplicates. Maybe there could be a place on this Message Board where members could post a list of their extra titles and swap them for others. What do you folk think?

[squbrigg]

Great topic as usual Paul!

Do you maintain a carving library?

My library takes four forms:
a carving and woodworking section,
a ship modelling and ship reference section,
a historical fiction/nautical fiction section,
a general fiction section

Do you collect books directly related to carving or is your collection more diverse?
In the carving and woodworking section are many carving books, but also books on box making, woodworking, drawing, dragons, Celtic design, bird reference, and wood finishing.

What peridocals are part of your carving library?
Wood Carving Illustrated!!!
Carving Magazine
Wood Carving (English)
Ships in Scale
Model Shipwright (English)
Woodworking
Fine Woodworking
WoodSmith
Wildfowl Carving
Maritime Life and Traditions/Sea History
Wooden Boat
Wildlife Art


How do you use your library?
I treasure my books, they get used every day as reference for some project I am working on ar planning to work on. The fiction section fills the time when I'm not able to carve and am resting. They inspire many carvings! They also serve as reference for some of the writing that I do, a small column (By The Sea) for a local newspaper. Because ship modelling is an exact art, the books are essential for getting the ships as close to perfection as possible. I also use my library to encourage others in carving, ship modelling or what ever way that they can help.

Bob