Author Josiah Waters “My interest in carving started while watching a local whittler carve wooden shoes outside of my elementary school. Since then, I have been fascinated by the art, and I spent many hours carving ‘pointy sticks’ with my pocket knife. Over the years, I transitioned to tools dedicated to woodcarving, and my projects slowly began to look like the works of art that I had envisioned." Perhaps it was because I only had access to my trusty pocket knife and a few tools from my local craft store, but when I first started carving, I was as traditional as they come. All power tools constituted cheating, and I wasn’t going to be party to that. So, I...
Recently I spoke with a novice carver who was having trouble knowing where to get started. She had a million questions, but no idea where to look. Who to trust. Of course, the internet is an incredible resource. But its also an overwhelming resource because of the sheer number of voices and opinions vying for your attention. Who is right? Who should I listen to? This person wished there was someone they could turn to for definitive answers to her questions . Unfortunately, that's not possible or even realistic. Every carver has their own way of doing things. These aren't math problems. There isn't one right answer. And that's where a lot of the anxiety about getting started stems...
Gift shopping for the woodworker in your family? We took the time to come up with some thoughtful, unique wood carving gift ideas for any budget. Here are our 2021 favorites. And, a little bonus surprise. If you use code GIFT2021 at checkout, you'll get 15% off all Schaaf Tools products (not just the ones on this list). Happy Holidays! “The Stocking Stuffers” - Wood Carving Gifts Under $30 Relief Carving Lessons from Madcarver - $9.99 and up Learn relief carving from one of the best relief carvers we know - Randy "Madcarver" Stoner. Randy makes some amazing art (his artwork also would make an amazing gift, but doesn't fit in the stocking stuffer category. You can check that out...
You still have a couple weeks to finish your holiday shopping before its officially "last minute". Don't panic yet! We have some great gifts for the woodworker in your family. Whether you're buying a present for an experienced carver or for a beginner, this list has something the creatively inclined will be sure to love. The awesome thing about these holiday gift ideas is that each one of them will last a lifetime if taken care of. Enjoy, and happy holiday shopping! 12-Piece Foundation Wood Carving Tools Set - $112.95 Give the gift of a new hobby (or make someone who already loves woodworking really, really happy). This set has the 12 essential tools a carver needs to start any carving project, from an...
How do you create a 3D object from a 2D drawing? Perspective in relief carving is the technique of creating the illusion of depth. In this video Randy 'Madcarver' Stoner explains the basics of how perspective works in relief carving by looking at a few of his past beginner carving projects. Next, learn some tips on where to find inspiration for your next project design, and what to look for in a beginner project. Video Notes:Timestamp [0:52]Rose Carving - Straight On View- Look at the points that create depth in your design (shadow, or something behind something else, for instance)- Create depth and force perspective by cutting away more material and pushing certain petals behind others Timestamp [2:24]City Street Carving-...
