Relief
Carving in Wood
A Practical Introduction
by Chris
Pye
Softcover
210 x 275mm
164pp
Published by Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd, East Sussex UK
R.R.P.$39.90
ISBN 1-86108-096-4
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 85
Chris Pye is the author of several noteworthy books on carving, including Woodcarving Tools, Materials & Equipment, a monumental book on the basics of carving. It should be considered one of the essential building blocks of any novice carver’s library.
His latest book is perhaps less ambitious, but equally successful. It covers the subject of relief carving, and is geared towards the novice who wants to learn about tool techniques and develop an understanding of how relief carving is employed as a method of visual representation.
Not quite two-dimensional and not quite three-dimensional, relief carving is, as the author puts it, ‘something between painting and sculpture’. The object has to be rendered so that it appears complete, usually from a particular perspective or viewpoint. This trick of the eye can be difficult to accomplish, but a few sound examples from the author provide the reader with a solid grounding in the basics.
The first project — a fish in low relief — is spread out over 30 pages. Many colour photographs are used to detail the manner of cutting with specific tools to produce the desired visual result. At the end of the project the author summarises the fundamentals of relief carving which have been presented in this basic but well-rounded exercise.
The second stage of development is a high-relief carving, again of a fish. The obvious initial difference is the greater amount of wood removal which must occur to make the relief higher, but by sticking to the same subject matter, the author is able to focus the readers’ attention to those differences that do occur when the methodology (low versus high-relief) changes.
A number of tool techniques are introduced, specifically those used for the rounding and deeper undercutting. In all there are four methods of undercutting examined — using v-tools for sharp edges, medium gouges for softer edges, skew chisels for deeper sharp edges, and slicing cuts for a range of deep and large undercuts that aren’t necessarily rounded. The author also touches upon mechanical methods for removing ground waste quickly, bursting out, trenching, and dealing with enclosed grounds.
The book contains enough background information for beginners to learn the basic of tool handling, setting up a workshop and sharpening. It also provides general information on timber selection and use.
In short, a well rounded introduction to relief carving, from an author you can trust.
Photos: Colour
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
How to use this book
Setting
Up
A place to work
A piece of wood
A safe and convenient way of
holding the carving
A selection of carving tools
A means of sharpening
your carving tools
A suitable idea
Summary
Basics
Handling woodcarving tools
Correct grips: Two rules; Two principal carving
grips; Poor ways of holding carving tools
Manipulating carving tools: Ways
of cutting
What carving tools do
Working safely
Cutting with carving
tools
Basic cuts: Stabbing and stop cuts; Rocking, slicing and sweeping cuts;
Running cuts
Using the mallet: Palm mallets
Grain
Understanding
grain
Working with the grain
The carving process
What is relief
carving?
Low
Relief Carving Project
Getting ready to start
Drawing the fish : Guidelines
Transferring the drawing to the wood
Depth of background
Carving
Lining in
Grounding
Setting in
Modelling
Detailing
Background
Finishing: Hanging the carving; Signing Summary
High Relief Carving Project
Getting ready to start
Drawing the fish
Background depth
Carving
Lowering
Rough setting in
Levelling
Rough shaping
Setting in
Modelling
Undercutting
Detailing
Finishing off Summary
Further
Techniques
Removing background waste more quickly
Faster wood removal
by hand: Larger tools; Sawing; Bursting out; Trenching
Mechanical methods
of removing wood: Routers; Drills
Dealing with enclosed grounds: Shallow
ground; Deep ground; A simple depth gauge
Undercutting: Advantages; Disadvantages
Next
Steps: Relief Carving Design
Your next relief carving
Where do ideas
come from?
Relief carving design: Research; Drawings; Design thoughts
Additional tools
Gallery
of Students Work
Sheffield List Chart
Glossary
Resources
Bibliography
Index