There have been quite a few requests for a video on letter carving to be included in my online woodcarving school. I am happy to announce that I finally have this completed and it is up on the site. I also have a fancy new camera so I can film from 2 camera angles so that I don’t have to edit out those areas where my hand is in the way of the camera. Check out the shocking and dramatic close-up shots of how to carve the details in the serifs (however, these close-ups are sort of cruel, as they show EVERYTHING).
I use the process of starting with a v-chisel to remove the bulk of the wood (which I tend to do in many of my carvings), and then use various straight chisels and curved gouges to shape the letters.
I use straight chisels for the straight edges (obviously), and also the inside curved edges. I only use curved gouges on the outside curved edges.
Letters are really fun to carve – especially when those sweet little serif corners magically appear. This style of letters are great because they really catch the light with great shadows.