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  First Projects for Woodcarvers
&
First Christmas Projects for Woodcarvers

by Larry Green and Mike Altman

Review by Mike Bloomquist


 First Christmas ProjectsFirst ProjectsThese two books are old friends off mine and I haven't carved a single project from either of them.  What's even more strange is one of them, First Christmas Projects for Woodcarvers I just purchased from the Woodcraft Shop at the Artistry in Wood show last November.  Pretty simple riddles really.  I've had them with me for many of my wood carving classes especially where beginners were expected.  You see, I don't like to force any particular pattern on students if it can be helped, especially those who are new to the art.  So beginners are offered as wide a selection of patterns as possible. As for Christmas Projects beginning a recent purchase, I bought a copy from "Big Dog" to replace one I'd lost track of.  Someday, whomever I loaned it to will turn up with it and I'll probably let them have it as a gift.  It's happened like that before.

OK, these to have been around for a bit. First Projects for Woodcarvers was published in 1996 and it's companion the following year.  First off, these books have more authors than just the two listed on the cover.  Larry Green is the primary author (I believe) and Mike Altman is an illustrator.  One of the finer points of these books is the illustrations and caricatures of the authors, so Mike deserves to be listed.  Then there's some fine photography by Steve Smith and consultants Tom Brown (CCA member) and Mac Proffit (owner of Smoky Mountain Woodcarver's Supply).


The contents are as follows:

First Projects for Woodcarvers

Acknowledgements
- Some folks who help make the book happen
Introduction
- Some more  folks who help make the book happen
The "First Projects" folks
- Some folks who help make the book happen
The Projects
- Describing the projects and why they're good beginner projects.

A Great Resource for the New Carver
- Membership in the National Wood Carvers Association

Safety
- Good points for a good start

Basic Tools of Woodcarving
- One page of knives and one page of "other" carving tools

Helpful Items Used in Wood Carving
- Other helpful items fro carving
Wood
- Basswood and a very short list and description of other suitable carving woods

Sharpening the Tools
- Sharpening!

Knife Practice
- The basic cuts

Gouge Practice
- The basic cuts and what tools to use when

The Cowboy Boot
- Project #1

Gandolf the Dog
- Project #2

The Nativity
- Project #3

The Roughout
- Not a bad "next step"

The Gallery
- More views of the finished projects.



First Christmas Projects for Woodcarvers

Introduction
- The folks who help make the book happen
The Projects
- Describing the projects and why they're good beginner projects.

A Great Resource for the New Carver
- Membership in the National Wood Carvers Association

Safety
- Good points for a good start

Basic Tools of Woodcarving
- One page of knives and one page of "other" carving tools

Helpful Items Used in Wood Carving
- Other helpful items fro carving
Wood
- Basswood and a very short list and description of other suitable carving woods

Sharpening the Tools
- Sharpening!

Knife Practice
- The basic cuts

Gouge Practice
- The basic cuts and what tools to use when

Stocking Ornament
- Project #1

Snowman
- Project #2

Carving the Flower
- A neat little "whittlin'" detail for the snomman

Finishing the Snowman
- A painting tutorial

The Sleeping Santa Ornament
- Project #3

The Gallery
- More views of the finished projects.



Reading the table of contents you'll notice that the first twelve chapters are identical.  Yes, there is a lot of overlap here, but that is as it should be since these are beginner books and stand on their own as such.  The contents of these chapters in the "Christmas" version have illustrations that are Christmas related.  My favorite is Santa in body armor illustrating carving safety.
First Projects IllustrationFirst Projects SampleBesides the projects that are brilliantly designed for beginners (including explanations why) these books have another feature that is pretty nifty.  While it's less likely with video, in a book you can easily get disoriented with still shots of a carving tutorial.  In several instances the author(s) paint the blank with a wash of grey/blue.  Then, as wood is removed the new cuts are easily seen because of the raw wood that's exposed.  A very good feature.  My only nit-pick (you knew there had to be one) was that they didn't do this consistently through both books.

So, these books gets an 'A' for readability, an 'A' for presentation, an 'A' for project design, and an 'A+' for illustration.  Highly recommended for beginners or those who are teaching beginners.


Well Gang, keep them edges keen, the chips piled high, and don't be so much of a carving veteran that you don't take on a good beginner's project once in a while.

Keep on Carvin’
-Mike B.->

MikeBMik Mike Bloomquist is a carver and carving teacher, and a regular contributor to WOM.

You may visit Mike's web site, Wooden Dreams Woodcarving HERE or email him at m.bloomquistATwoodendreamzDOTcom.