I procrastinate... no doubt about
it, but sometimes... sometimes it
pays dividends. This time I got to meet up with the authors of
this book and get some tid-bits and insights to pass along to my
readers. All three of you. The first tid-bit is that this
latest effort has an extreme international appeal. The
step-by-steps are more pictures and less text which seems to work well
with the Europeans and their neighbors. Several over-seas
carvers have revived the fan carving art in their areas without being
able to read the English text at all. A pretty neat
accomplishment for a how-to publication, and rather significant since
these folks live closer to the roots of this folk art form,
and yet had not seen it done before Sally and David's book.
Except for
one section on the basic technique for cutting and weaving your basic
fan most of this book is is new material or greatly expanded over their
first book. There is a wealth of new history that they have
uncovered with research and travels they have made between the
publications.
New things I
think you'll like: More photographs of historic examples of the fan
carving art., a gallery of artisans from Slavic and Sacndinavian lands
and their carvings, and many, many more projects that you can apply
your fan carving skills to. Many of them aren't birds.
Things I miss
from the first book... only one thing really There is no glossary
of terms, especially the term for "whack".
Bibliography
One small nit-pick for Sally and David's second creation - the tool list
is exclusively FlexCut. I own and have used two of them and you
can't go wrong. The plug is understandable since a couple of sources tell me that the 3" drawknife was designed by Flexcut, in collaboration with the Nyes, specifically for fan carving. However, a little discussion of what tools might work that are already in your tool roll would be a nice alternative. Then I have a caveat (warning?). If you have no
interest in whittling projects with a "history" this one is not for
you. This a very focused book, and if the fan style doesn't
appeal to you there's not much else for you in this book. Then,
finally, there's a
recommendation. If you haven't bought their first book, buy this
one first. It stands well on it's own and has everything you
need. Then, if you enjoy it, buy the first for the patterns you
missed and to complete the set.
This time the authors are good friends of mine and I'm very biased about this book, but
not so much that I would steer you wrong. For the subject, and
for reviving a folk art form with significant history this is a five
thumb production and the Nyes deserve all the success possible with
it. Oh, one more thing. If, during your highway travels,
you see a long, green van with a fan bird on the side pulling off at a
rest-stop, make sure you stop and say "Hi". Just be nice and wait
'till after they're leaving
the restrooms.
To order a copy of Sally and David's book visit fancarversworld.com
Well fellow woodcarvers, 'till next time keep them edges keen, the
chips
piled high, and don't "fan" on these bird projects.
Mike
Bloomquist is a carver, carving teacher, and a regular contributor to WOM.
You may visit Mike's web site, Wooden Dreams Woodcarving HERE or email him at m.bloomquistATverizonDOTnet.