What to carve?

[Loppy]

I am very new to the carving world. I am still learning the knives and figuring out how to use the strop. Thank goodness for Youtube! So for some of you guys that have been around for awhile, what is some good ideas to carve for beginners? I have done a few gnomes, which i love, but would like to change it up a little. Something where i can keep building my skills and confidence.
Thank you

[Nebraska]

Loopy,

I have alway thought the ball in cage or chain link projects where good for beginners.

[mpounders]

Cowboy boots

[Merle Rice]

Whatever draws your Interest and Challenges you to try to Carve .

[woodburner807]

Doug Linker (Youtube) has a variety of subjects for beginners and he might give you ideas.

[Randy]

Loopy if you click on the black strip a the top that say woodcarversillustrated.com it will take you to the home page click on “HowTo” . You will find a variety of great project with patterns as well as some good information on carvings and tools. Like Merle said find what you like and carve! You will lean from each one.

[pallin]

This WCI site had a photo gallery in the past, but it possibly caused a hacking vulnerability. You can still access the photos posted by a member by clicking on the username, then media. You can also adjust the Filter to Any Time, which will give you all the photos of one member. So choose a member who may have some knife-based projects and get some ideas.

[Claude]

Here are a few:
https://woodbeecarver.com Don Mertz uses only a knife
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...carving+videos Gene Messer use a knife only most of the time and has a lot of carvings for the beginner to try.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...r+wood+carver+ Arleen Zomer also has some great videos for beginners.

Claude

[DiLeon]

When I was beginning I got the Wood carving Illustrated magazine in the magazine was wonderful projects and how to do it. Those projects really helped me and gave me some great gifts to give away. Also check out You Tube....tons of videos on beginning wood carving projects...depending what you are interested in.

[Loppy]

Thank you for all of the suggestions! This site is a very reliable resource! I did see some Doug Linker videos and I really like that guy. There really a lot of fun ideas to try. I will give some of these a try. Hopefully I will have a post of a new creation by Monday.

[joepaulbutler]

Aw, the "book of knowledge of woodcarving" you got to love it!

[Newsome Road]

I enjoy watching Linker carve! I have never tried to follow along with him, I just watch for fun. But I've picked up all kinds of things from watching him.

I think you need to do a cowboy boot toothpick holder fairly soon. There are not a ton of details in a boot, but you'll really learn a lot about grain direction. I think it's an excellent beginner project

[tbox61]

Spend some time looking into and carving different things. When I figured out I wanted to carve seriously in 1997, I thought I wanted to carve birds...after picking up Jack Price' book on carving small caricatures and trying those, I was hooked!

Doug Linker has his own method, and I love his videos. His is kind of a hybrid style between Mike Shipley and Jack Price.

[Loppy]

These are some great responses! Thank you all for the suggestions. The caricatures are really sparking an interest. I will try a little of everything as time goes on. If only there was more time in the day. If this work thing wouldn't get in the way of my time I'd be alright.

[Brian T]

I think that's the first step = settle on three styles of carvings that you really like. Styles that you know you can manage, economically. No 40' west coast totem poles for next week. Begin with Randy's suggestions (#6). Welcome to the exploration.

One of those three will hold more of your interest than the other two. Go there and stay there for a while. See if you like what you can do. The process probably has as much appeal as the final result.

You need a wood supply, a pattern supply, tools and sharpening supplies.

I draw all my own patterns, based on what I see in a piece of wood.
That's led to stacks of blocks and log pieces both in and outside my house.