Any good book for carving animals?

[jillsy]

Hi All,

I'm hoping to get motivated once again to get back to carving (I always miss it so much when I've been away too long!)

Anway, I was thinking of trying carving some Artic animals (baby seal, penguin, maybe a wolf). I actually bought some little toys to use as models, but honestly, I am really bad when it comes to carving animals. I don't need them to be realistic, preferring the folk-art look. But, at the same time, I'd like for them to look what they're suppose to be!

Does anyone know if there are any good books out on this? Even if it's just for animals in general. I saw one book about carving Noah's animals, but from the feedback it received, it doesn't look like one I should get.

In the meantime, it's back to changing dirty diapers!

Jillsy

[Thomp]

ya need to wait till next week tom h. the resident noah's arch novist is on a carving expidition till then,

[Robert Cahill]

Jillsy, I like the two books by Mary Duke Guldan "A woodcarvers workbook carving animals" and A woodcarvers workbook #2.but in her books you cut out layers in 3/4 inch pine and layer them on top of each other to get the needed thickness .
Hope you understood I'm not good in discribing things


















G

[Nancy-G]

Jill - I went poking around my shelves and found several. Mostly I agree with Robert Cahill about Mary Duke Guldan's books - both are super and are especially nice for people without bandsaws.
And I have:
Diane Ernst's CARVING WOODEN CRITTERS. (1993)
Desiree Hajny CARVING WOLVES, FOXES & COYOTES (wow!!!)
Tom Wolfe CARVING BEARS AND BUNNIES
Helen Gibson Carves THE ANIMALS OF THE NATIVITY (we all should own this)
David Pergrin WOODCARVING THE WONDERS OF NATURE (quite old)

If you'd like to see photos just let me know

[jillsy]

Thanks everyone.

I do have some patterns of animals, but it's the carving part that's hard!

Tried a sheep last night and it came out ok. I think I drew the pattern on wrong though because every cut seemed to go against the grain. Will try again.

Nancy, left you a pm.

Thanks again all!

[artolver]

Jilly
I am thinking you are easing up your humour. I know how many diapers you need these days. you should use them for them comic
ideas on your sketch pad and you can a write a book. keep the art, carving, drawing, painting
love the family. Thumbs Up
artolver

[jillsy]

artolver, working with my hands is definitely my stress-release and creative outlet. And when I haven't done it in a while, I honestly feel like there's an emptiness inside me.

So, I tried a sheep last week, he's primitive, but cute. I know I can do better with practice. So, I just started another one and already I feel the difference. I DID draw the pattern wrong on the board. I thought I should draw the grain going across the body - wrong. This time, it dawned on me that I had a Shawn Cipa Nativity book and sure enough, he drew his animals with the grain going up and down the body. I tried it and and carving the sheep has been alot easier. Still practicing the ears and getting the head to turn in. I'm used to just drawing front views so I'm practicing alot of different things here.

It's unbelievable how just carving a simple sheep has brought down my stress level while bringing up my spirits. Talking