[Dennis]

My name is Dennis Rice and I am planning on retiring soon. for that reason I have begun a search for areas of interest to fill my time. While I have made projects from wood I have never tried carving. What is available through this venue in regard to learning how to carve?

[mdallensr]

Hi Dennis: Your first step on this website is the "Club Search" under "Carving Community". Clubs often include classes, seminars, or formal instruction. If you can find one near you, it will be invaluable in helping you get started properly. Another huge help is a carving show, often sponsored by carving clubs or carving instructors. Carvers are the most helpful people I've ever met, and most are more than willing to point you in the right direction. Next, there are many professional carvers who are members of this message board, and some are instructors. Their advice is the best free advice you'll get anywhere, and you can pose questions to them on this board. And, we have s newer section that list on-line carving classes, for distance learning.

If you want or need to be self-instructed, Fox Chapel Publishing, the sponsors of this site, sells the best variety of carving books you'll find anywhere. We've had a few threads that listed the best books for beginners, and you can find those threads, and any thread topic you're interested in, by doing a search of our threads and posts with a few key workds.

Your profile doesn't show where you live, but we have members from most states and a few countries, so there's a good chance you could find a board member nearby who could offer some very specific advice. Good luck. Mike

[AlArchie]

Dennis, if you look around on the "Woodcarving Tutorials" forum on this section, you will find some good ideas.

For beginning carving tutorials and stacks of great advice and information try looking into these two sites

http://www.carvingpatterns.com/

www.littleshavers.com

Both have patterns and instructions, tips and tools for all types of carving.

Or for a bit more advanced tutorials (and more good advice) try this link to Lynn Doughty's sites.
http://www.outwestwoodcarving.blogspot.com/

Al