Feedback requested - Carving Resources

Irishman · #1 06-08-2006, 09:44 AM

I am looking for some inspiration for carving more woodspirits so I am preparing to purchase one or two carving books. I would appreciate anyones reviews on the following resources before I make my purchase:
Learn to carve woodspirits - Johnson
How to carve woodspirits in a hiking stick - Johnson
Woodspirits and walking sticks - Wolfe.
There may be others readers can suggest. I am keen on books which have many reference photos rather than a how-to format.
Patrick

bbeery · #2 06-08-2006, 11:48 AM

No doubt in my mind, Tom Wolfe "Carving Woodsprits". It is an older publication and may be out of print. You can call Tom and find out at Grandfather Mountain North
Carolina. Can't seem to find his phone number or his E mail address. Maybe someone else on line has that info for you.

Plain_Ol_Ed · #3 06-08-2006, 11:57 AM

"Wood Spirits and Green Men" by Lora S. Irish with Chris Pye and Shawn Cipa Gallery Photographs by Clive Hicks. Pub. Fox Chapel. Available from Little Shavers Woodcarving Supply. If you use up all the patterns and ideas in this book, you won't be needing another.

Mitchell · #4 06-08-2006, 12:00 PM

Here's a link to woodspirit carving books published by Fox Chapel.

http://www.foxchapelpublishing.com/s...p=1&FullCat=47

I like Tom's and Harold Enlow's - both are still in publication.

bbeery · #5 06-08-2006, 12:17 PM

Try this WEB page for all his books, including Woodsprits and Walking sticks:

Tom Wolfe: Books Fur and Feathers Woodcarving ... wpe2E.jpg (23816 bytes), 12-367, Tom Wolfe Goes To The Dogs, 12.95. wpe2F.jpg (36170 bytes), 12-381, The Easter Bunny & His ...
www.fandfwoodcarving.com/t-wolfe-bk.htm

Or do a google search for Tom Wolde, woodcarver

Irishman · #6 06-08-2006, 01:37 PM

Thanks everyone. Your definitely narrowing down my choices. I have access to the wood spirits and green men book so that's why its not on the list I provided. Lot's of pictures and variations is what I'm looking for.
Patrick

Ashbys · #7 06-08-2006, 03:18 PM

Personally, for inspiration for wood spirits, I would check the gallery , not just wood spirit section but canes staffs holiday .... some really great things there .

Ash

Old_Gord · #8 06-08-2006, 04:08 PM

Irishman, most of the books mentioned are "how to do" books. Harold Enlow's book "How to carve faces in driftwood" ISBN 1-882475-01-1 is a how to book as well but does have about 9-10 different patterns, shouldn't be too expensive either..
Johnsons, "How to carve woodspirits in a hiking stick" is a very small pamphlet type book, again a how to with a few gallery pictures , black and white or should I say light grey pictures, most likely well below your abilities.
You might want to take a look at Chris Pye's web site, his gallery has a number of Greenmen examples as well as some Greenman background info.
http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/.
You also might want to take a look at Walter S. Arnolds web site , he's primarily a stone carver dealing in Gargoyles and Grotesques, lots of ideas there for faces etc.
http://www.stonecarver.com/gargoyle.htm
You could also check out Susan Irish's pattern web site, she has a series of woodspirit face patterns on CD for sale.
My advice as far as a lot of the books that are published about carving Woodspirits is for you to have the book in your hands so you can see what they provide before you pay out any money, some books even if written by "well known" authors can be a disappointment when they arrive in the mail box without you being well aware of their actual contents.

.

OG

Irishman · #9 06-09-2006, 07:42 AM

I appreciate the web links Gord - they're as good as a resource as many of them have pages/link with wood spirits or greenmen. The shortcut for the gargoyles is very helpful as I am taking another carving course in the fall specializing in gargoyles and fantacy creatures.
Patrick

Paul_Guraedy · #10 06-09-2006, 08:55 AM

One book (again a Fox Chapel publication) that I did not see on the list is "Carving Wood Spirits in Tree Bark" by Joyce Buchanan.

This is my favorite and the one I keep returning to, mainly because of the eyes. Someday I hope that I can carve a wood spirit type figure where the eyes look so hypnotic.

There is an instruction section on eyes, noses and beards and info on carving cottonwood bark. But, the medium could be any wood and the methods extrapolated to include all sorts of faces.