Art By Al Pisano Blog

We are all familiar with the numerous magazines that are available for purchase these days; gossip magazines, sports magazines, cooking magazines and more. There is practically a magazine for all interests and hobbies and of course, our favorite reads are the woodcarving magazines. If you are looking to learn more about the hobby and craft of wood carving, want a collection of ideas and inspirations, or are thinking of becoming familiar with various techniques and tools for carving, why not check out the list of our favorite wood carving magazines that offer its readers just that?

Some of the more popular choices for fellow wood carvers and wood workers are, Wood Carving Illustrated, Wood Worker’s Journal, Wood Craft, American Woodworker and Fine Woodworking. Each of these magazines covers many aspects of woodcarving and wood working and can become a valuable resource for those interested in this craft.

We’d love to hear some of your favorite wood carving and wood working magazines and any interesting articles you’ve discovered that you’d like to share!

After you’ve completed your woodcarving, do you ever feel that the piece seems to be missing something? Decorating your woodcarving with paint can change its entire look and is rather easy to do.

First, sand the carving with sand paper so to remove any rough edges. Be sure to wipe the carving down with a towel to remove any loose pieces. Then, using a medium brush, paint the base colors of the carving and remember to wash the brush out between colors. Add paint to the smaller portions of the carving to add detail and assure that the paint is reaching any time crevices of the carving. Then, consider outlining and creating shadows with black paint and highlight using white paint. Let the carving dry thoroughly and check the area for any needed touch ups. Once you are satisfied with the painting of the carving, be sure to spray the carving with a sealant to keep the paint from flaking away and the wood from warping.

If you haven’t considering painting your woodcarvings, perhaps you will consider doing so on your next creation. Adding a few brush of color to your carving can be just what your carving needs and you’ll enjoy seeing the piece come alive with color!

Are you passionate about woodworking or woodcarving? Do you enjoy keeping up with the latest and greatest of what’s happening around this craft? Do you have a few carvings of your own that you’d like to show off? If so, you may want to consider attending The Woodworking Shows.

The Woodworking Shows offers educational seminars, product demonstrations on some of the latest woodworking tools, and gives the attendees the opportunities to meet their favorite authors and interact with other individuals who share the same woodworking and woodcarving passions.

If you are confident about your own work of art, you have the opportunity to submit your piece of work for The Woodworking Show Educators to vote on. Whether your woodcarving was created out of unique inspiration, a family heirloom, or of special wood, with a simple submission and registration, you can easily become qualified for the Grand Price winning of a Delta Unisaw and your work will be displayed at the ShowOFF display area at the show. For more details, visit, The Woodworking Show’s site at www.woodworkingshows.com.

To see if The Wood Working Show is coming to your town, check out the list of cities at, The Woodworking Shows.

Wood carving can be both relaxing and fun, as well as a great hobby for many. Whether the art of wood carving is enjoyed by another member of your family or circle of friends, or if you are the first to dive into this exciting craft, you have to start from somewhere and build your skill and confidence along the way.

If you are starting off wood carving for the very first time, follow the steps below as you begin your first wood carved masterpiece:

1.Decide what you want to carve. Either choose a pattern or draw your own sketch.
2.Different woods vary in color and textures. A soft pine or maple is better suited for beginners.
3.Trace your pattern or drawing onto the wood with a stylus or carbon paper.
4.Using your simple tool, a utility knife, trace around the outline of the pattern or drawing.
5.With your knife at a shallow angle, cut the wood around the outline.
6.Repeat steps 4 & 5 until all lines of the outline are cut.
7.Begin rounding edges, adding dimensions with different depth cuts to add detail.
8.Use a sheet of fine sand paper to smooth over your cut marks.
9.Choose to stain your wood carving to add depth and bring out the textures.
10.Apply varnish and a sealer for added protection.

Trying out wood carving for the first time can be very inexpensive. With the use of a utility knife and a small wood surface, you can test out your skills and move on to more advanced designs and other wood carving tools.

For centuries, the wonderful hobby of woodcarving has delighted peoples around the world. It takes time and patience to learn and develop good woodcarving skills, however, the pieces that result are always worth the wait. There are four main styles of woodcarving and the tools used vary among each style.

Whittling
The oldest style of woodcarving, whittling is done with a basic carving knife. This type of carving also lets you see knife strokes after the carving is completed, which can add a very hand-made, artisan look to the piece.

Carving In The Round
This style gives more of a lifelike surface and texture. Many objects in this style are portrayed as people and animals. The carvings may vary in sizes and can be painted or left natural.

Relief Carving
With relief carving, the carving has a flat back and the image in carved in 3 dimensions. Typical works include sceneries, but any object can be carved and the finished good can be found hanging on a wall or as another type of decorative piece.

Chip Carving
This technique requires you chip or remove selected pieces of wood. Chip carving is also know as kerbschnitzen, which is Swiss for engraving carving.

It’s necessary you choose the style of carving before getting started because you want the proper tools on hand before your project is underway.

Do you have any other carving styles you’d like to share?