Acanthus leaf help!

[West]

Hi;

I'm new here & new to carving. I could use all the help there is from anyone who can help such as the proper gouges, v tools, knives and so on that I sould use. I know it's kinda early to be trying this but I love challenges. So if anyone can help, I would appreciate it much. I'm building a Mahogany Lowboy.
Thanks in advance.

Wes

[mdallensr]

You've come to the right place! Use the "search" function on the menu bar above. Type in acanthus and you'll get a bunch of threads related to your needs. Here's an earlier post:

Wow, another acanthus carver! Let me suggest some good books:
1. Woodcarving Techniques and Design by Mike Davies. Lots of designs and a section on how to draw acanthus leaves. Super book!
2. How to Carve Wood by Richard Butz, 1984. Lots of drawings and patterns of acanthus carvings. I posted photos of 3 acanthus panels on Picture Trail, and the patterns or photos for those came from this book.
3. Decorative Woodcarving by Graham Bull, 2000. Examples of decorative carving.
4. Essential Woodcarving Techniques by Dick Onians, 1997. Includes a chapter on traditional foliage/acanthus.
5. Carving Architectural Detail in Wood; The Clasical Tradtion by Frederick Wilbur, 2000. Lots of design and instruction on drawing acanthus and other decorative details.
6. Elements of Woodcarving by Chris Pye.

The great book you and I want is by Johan Amrud. Traditional Woodcarving in the Norwergian Tradition. Out of print and very hard to come by. One sold on e-bay recently for about $70. You can get his patterns form the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101, USA. If you ask, they'll send you a list. One of the acanthus panels I carved (and posted the photo) is an Amrud pattern that Butz showed as a photo in his book. He credits the carver and Vesterheim, but missed the fact that the original pattern and carving were by Amrud. Amrud used to teach acanthus carving at the Vesterheim Museum in Iowa but either died or moved back to Norway.

You're a lot closer to Norway than we are here in the U.S. but we seem to have a lot of interest in the art of decorative carving, and we still have some courses taught on the East Coast. Chris Pye is one of the British carvers who comes over here to teach a couple of weeks each year.

Good luck. If you can find Mike Davies book in a library, you'll be pleased with the content and the further reading that is referenced. The next time I see Johan Amrud's book for sale, I'm going to pay the price for it.

[MelNM]

WCI has an article in one of its magazines on how to do it, but I can't remember which one.

[MelNM]

WCI has an article in one of its magazines on how to do it, but I can't remember which one.

I found it here's the link http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...004/toc_23.php

[West]

Originally Posted by mdallensr

You've come to the right place! Use the "search" function on the menu bar above. Type in acanthus and you'll get a bunch of threads related to your needs. Here's an earlier post:

Wow, another acanthus carver! Let me suggest some good books:
1. Woodcarving Techniques and Design by Mike Davies. Lots of designs and a section on how to draw acanthus leaves. Super book!
2. How to Carve Wood by Richard Butz, 1984. Lots of drawings and patterns of acanthus carvings. I posted photos of 3 acanthus panels on Picture Trail, and the patterns or photos for those came from this book.
3. Decorative Woodcarving by Graham Bull, 2000. Examples of decorative carving.
4. Essential Woodcarving Techniques by Dick Onians, 1997. Includes a chapter on traditional foliage/acanthus.
5. Carving Architectural Detail in Wood; The Clasical Tradtion by Frederick Wilbur, 2000. Lots of design and instruction on drawing acanthus and other decorative details.
6. Elements of Woodcarving by Chris Pye.

The great book you and I want is by Johan Amrud. Traditional Woodcarving in the Norwergian Tradition. Out of print and very hard to come by. One sold on e-bay recently for about $70. You can get his patterns form the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101, USA. If you ask, they'll send you a list. One of the acanthus panels I carved (and posted the photo) is an Amrud pattern that Butz showed as a photo in his book. He credits the carver and Vesterheim, but missed the fact that the original pattern and carving were by Amrud. Amrud used to teach acanthus carving at the Vesterheim Museum in Iowa but either died or moved back to Norway.

You're a lot closer to Norway than we are here in the U.S. but we seem to have a lot of interest in the art of decorative carving, and we still have some courses taught on the East Coast. Chris Pye is one of the British carvers who comes over here to teach a couple of weeks each year.

Good luck. If you can find Mike Davies book in a library, you'll be pleased with the content and the further reading that is referenced. The next time I see Johan Amrud's book for sale, I'm going to pay the price for it.

Gosh you sure gave me loads of info! I'm sure I can find what I need, I have the patience so what you gave me & the other reply I got, it will work out just fine. Oh one more thing, your probably closer to Norway then me I'm in crumby New Jersey.

[JeffB]

West,
To bad you are not in Montana.
Some great work here:
http://www.furniturecarver.com/
Wow.
Good luck with the high-boy. Would like to try one myself
Take a look at Nora Halls site:
http://www.norahall.com/
Lots to learn from her.

[Just Carving]

Welcome Wes!

Aw c'mon--Jersey aint' that crummy. Just think BEACH!!!!!!

[West]

Originally Posted by Liferescue

Welcome Wes!

Aw c'mon--Jersey aint' that crummy. Just think BEACH!!!!!!

Belmar is a nice beach but I like snow.Cowboy

[West]

Originally Posted by mdallensr

You've come to the right place! Use the "search" function on the menu bar above. Type in acanthus and you'll get a bunch of threads related to your needs. Here's an earlier post:

Wow, another acanthus carver! Let me suggest some good books:
1. Woodcarving Techniques and Design by Mike Davies. Lots of designs and a section on how to draw acanthus leaves. Super book!
2. How to Carve Wood by Richard Butz, 1984. Lots of drawings and patterns of acanthus carvings. I posted photos of 3 acanthus panels on Picture Trail, and the patterns or photos for those came from this book.
3. Decorative Woodcarving by Graham Bull, 2000. Examples of decorative carving.
4. Essential Woodcarving Techniques by Dick Onians, 1997. Includes a chapter on traditional foliage/acanthus.
5. Carving Architectural Detail in Wood; The Clasical Tradtion by Frederick Wilbur, 2000. Lots of design and instruction on drawing acanthus and other decorative details.
6. Elements of Woodcarving by Chris Pye.

The great book you and I want is by Johan Amrud. Traditional Woodcarving in the Norwergian Tradition. Out of print and very hard to come by. One sold on e-bay recently for about $70. You can get his patterns form the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101, USA. If you ask, they'll send you a list. One of the acanthus panels I carved (and posted the photo) is an Amrud pattern that Butz showed as a photo in his book. He credits the carver and Vesterheim, but missed the fact that the original pattern and carving were by Amrud. Amrud used to teach acanthus carving at the Vesterheim Museum in Iowa but either died or moved back to Norway.

You're a lot closer to Norway than we are here in the U.S. but we seem to have a lot of interest in the art of decorative carving, and we still have some courses taught on the East Coast. Chris Pye is one of the British carvers who comes over here to teach a couple of weeks each year.

Good luck. If you can find Mike Davies book in a library, you'll be pleased with the content and the further reading that is referenced. The next time I see Johan Amrud's book for sale, I'm going to pay the price for it.

I found it!! The book by Amrud Do you think it's worth the $50.00

[mdallensr]

I now have my own copy of Amrud's book, and it does have some great illustrations. I paid $70.00.