The first step into a new craft can be overwhelming: Where to start? What tools to buy? What projects to begin with? Thanks to author and internationally acclaimed woodcarver Chris Pye, this guide is filled with everything a beginning woodcarver needs to know. Chris Pye's Woodcarving Course & Reference Manual is akin to having a one-on-one course with a master carver. You'll learn what to look for in a workbench, the importance of commissioning your carving tools-there's more to it than just sharpening -and how to make exacting cuts and execute a variety of techniques. Like any good...

Give turned work an added dimension of artistry by embellishing it with carving. Twelve projects, arranged in order of difficulty, provide progressive lessons in technique. Begin with simple decorative marks to create a beautiful sun bowl and a wheat-ear breadboard. Make a vase using low relief, or a dolphin mirror with pierced relief, and practice shaping skills while working on a mortar and pestle.