There are now 16 individual carving projects on my video school. They range from very basic projects for people who have never picked up a carving tool to advanced furniture carving projects for experienced carvers.
I also have included a video about carving tools, and also several on sharpening various styles of gouges.
If you are a beginning carver, I have included a list of what would be the best order to view the videos, and also a list of basic tools to get started.
Most of the videos projects focus on classical carvings for either furniture or architectural details.
To date, the following videos are on the site:
Woodcarving Basics – Starting to Carve
Woodcarving Basics – Carving a Simple Flower
Woodcarving Basics – How to Carve a Donut
How to Carve a Camellia
How to Carve an Acanthus Leaf on a Cabriole Leg
How to Carve an Acanthus Leaf on a Turned Post
Linenfold Carving – Ribbon Style
Linenfold Carving – Drapery Style
Carving Basic Leaf Molding
Carving Egg and Dart Molding in Oak
Carving Egg and Dart Molding in Poplar
Carving Egg and Dart Molding – Production Mode
Carving a Turned Capital
Carving Reeds on a Table Leg
Carving a Fully 3-dimensional Hand
Carving a Celtic Knot
The latest videos on Linenfold carving that I have added were filmed while I was teaching at Marc Adams several weeks ago. It was fun trying to edit these videos, because the class was quite large – and somewhat rowdy. So I had to cut out some of the background noise or it would have just been confusing if you weren’t actually part of the class. So the places where there is simply music is where the students were getting a little loud. It was a wild, but very fun class. And we actually got a lot of carving done.
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- One video shows how to carve the ribbon or flag style linenfold
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- Another video shows how to carve the drapery style linenfold.
I am currently working on editing the video on carving the Philadelphia style ball and claw foot, and hope to have that up on the site within the next few weeks.
I recently spent 10 days enjoying the cool mountain breezes of Colorado. I spent a lot of time hiking, and had time to think about the future and my plans for the video web site. Sometimes when you go on vacation, you want to get completely away from your work. Well, I didn’t get away from my work, I just was in a position to view things from a different perspective. Here are some of my ideas:
– pick a piece of furniture with a lot of carving (such as a Philadelphia lowboy) and show the process of carving each of the details.
– include furniture making or other specialty woodworking skills in the future – from other teachers
– More sculpture pieces
I’m always looking for more ideas, so if anybody has any other suggestions, please let me know.
If you have not seen the video school site, click on the “Come Join Us” under the sample video to the right. You can try the site for 3 days for free – if you decide that this is not something you would be interested in, just cancel before the 3 days, and you will not be charged.
OK. I’m hooked. Charles said this was a great site to learn more about carving and I couldn’t agree more. Most of the tools you suggested have been ordered and should be arriving next week sometime. Until then, I watch the videos again and wait. The Philadelphia lowboy would be a great choice.
Leanard, I may have a commission to do another Philadlphia lowboy soon and will let you know if it comes through. If not, I may just make the individual carved pieces.
Hope you enjoy the site!
Congratulations on the successful launch of the video school Mary. I’ll be signing up as well once my day job settles down a bit. You make hay while the sun is shining right? I’ve been following you for a couple of years now and I have to say, you’ve certainly stepped up to the plate and rightly claimed your place as America’s carver. It’s not just your talent that makes you deserving of the title, though that’s certainly requisite, but perhaps, most important, is your willingness to educate and preserve the craft/art of carving. For that, I, and many others I’m sure, are most grateful. Also, sincere condolences on the passing of your uncle. If we’re wise, we take the best qualities our forebears passed on to us and allow them to live on through us, and perhaps pass them on to others still.
Mark,
Thank you so much! Isn’t that the natural progression that should take place? Learn the skill, do the skill, teach the skill. My natural inclination is to stay in my shop and be a hermit, stick to myself – but it sort of seems like with the nature of this cycle, I’m getting out of my confort zone and going the next step – sharing.
Thank you! I sincerely hope this helps you and others get to that next level of woodworking.
Hi Mary, just bought Cab. foot and acanthus leaves on knee dvd’s. I am fascinated
with the cartouches on Philly hi-boys ….. maybe some designs and carving of one of those would be interesting …. There seem to be a “plethora”, (finally got to use that word !!), to choose from !!
I’ll put a cartouche on the list. I think it would be a great project to show.