In over 25 years as a full-time wood carver, David Sabol has created life-like animals and birds, beautiful landscapes, festive Christmas ornaments, stunning storybook characters, and distinctive signs for business and historical sites.

Now you can too -- by following the tips, techniques and creative advice in Woodcarving Basics.

As a traditional craft that's survived for centuries, wood carving is something just about anyone can master -- if you're willing to learn the basic skills. That's precisely what you'll find in this comprehensive volume from the guru of wood carving.

From simple to more sophisticated techniques, the book includes a broad sampling of creative projects -- with step-by-step instructions and colorful photos that show you how to make each one a work of art.

The projects -- designed to give beginners a working knowledge of many carving styles -- become increasingly more challenging as you move through the book. Every piece you create will hone your skills for the projects that follow.

As you move from one chapter to the next, you'll learn all the valuable techniques you need to grow as a carver. After a while, you'll gain the confidence to try more complicated projects and experiment with pieces you've dreamed up yourself.

For anyone who wants to master the essentials, Wood Carving Basics is the perfect place to start. You'll learn how to:

• Select wood from a wide range of interesting types
• Choose tools from knives and gouges to V-tools and power carving devices
• Sharpen and care for your tools to improve performance and longevity
• Relief carve wildlife and landscapes
• Chip carve, power carve and burn wood
• Paint and finish your carvings with colorful detail

If wood carving sparks your desire to make something with your own hands -- developing an artful touch and meticulous attention to detail -- here's one book that delivers all the expert advice you need.

Woodcarving Basics DVD
Click here to find out about our DVD, Woodcarving Basics, designed as a companion to the book, with extra emphasis on demonstrating technique.

2 Introduction

4 Tools and Woods
6 Knives
7 Gouges
8 V-tools
11 Power carving tools
13 Tool techniques
18 Suggested woods

22 Sharpening Your Tools
24 Resharpening
25 Resurfacing worn stones
26 Knives
30 Sharpening gouges
34 Sharpening V-tools
37 Power sharpening machines

38 Knife Carving
40 Lay out and rough in the face
42 Adding detail
45 Finishing touches

46 Relief Carving: Wildlife
48 Outline the design
50 Remove the background
52 Shape the head
54 Shape the leaves
56 Refine the features
59 Detail the fur and leaves
61 Apply a clear finish

62 Relief Carving: Landscapes
64 Outline the design
68 Put the walls in perspective
72 Lay in the windows
74 Carve the siding and shingles
78 Detail the railing and windows
80 Carve the bushes
81 Finish the trees and grass
83 Finish the background

84 Sign Carving
86 Design your sign
90 Carve the straight letters
93 Carve the curved letters
97 Carve the flowers
99 Cove the border

102 Chip Carving
104 Basic outlining
107 Traditional chip-cut borders
111 Rosettes and curves

118 Carving Decoys
120 Rough cut the parts
122 Carve the body
126 Carve the head
131 Complete the carving
133 Install the eyes
136 Applying gesso and paint

142 Power Carving and Woodburning
144 Rough out the shape
148 Refine the details
153 Create textures
156 Woodburning

160 Bark Carving
162 Rough in the design
164 Refine the details

168 Painting and Finishing
170 Using colored pencils
172 Painting with acrylics
176 Oil painting
181 Power-carved rabbit

184 Resources

185 Index