Learn to Carve Gnomes, Trolls, and Mythical Creatures: 15 Simple Step-by-Step Projects

by Sara Barraclough

A woodcarving book devoted solely to magical little gnomes and other charming creatures! The perfect source of inspiration for beginning and experienced whittlers and carvers alike, Learn to Carve Gnomes, Trolls, and Mythical Creatures boasts a menagerie of 15 woodcarving projects that range in difficulty from easy to more challenging. With complete plans and step-by-step instructions and photography, use just one knife to carve charismatic characters and objects, from a mushroom house, unicorn, and gnome to a wizard, dragon, fairy, cauldron, and much more. Sara Barraclough is a master carver and a regular contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated Magazine, as well as the author of the incredibly charming Weekend Whittling Projects.

• ISBN13: 9781497101128
• Publish Date: 13 October 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 104
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Learn to Carve Gnomes, Trolls, and Mythical Creatures is a whimsically wonderful tutorial guide by Sara Barraclough for woodcarving. Due out 1st Dec 2020 from Fox Chapel, it's 104 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is such an appealing book. The characters are all fantasy and nature inspired, with a gnome, troll, dragon, wizard, and more, and several woodland creatures such as a toad, owl, squirrel, and others.

The layout is logical and easy to understand. The introduction covers tools, materials, and supplies, a very abbreviated safety section (carving gloves, leather strop, safety goggles, and dust masks are absolutely necessary and the author gives some suggestions). It includes some primer tutorials covering tools and how to use them as well as painting and finishing. The following chapters contain the project tutorials arranged by difficulty: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Each tutorial contains an introduction, tools and supplies listed bullet style, and step by step instructions. All of the tutorials include clear color photos of the steps as well as a color photo of the finished painted project.

Full size templates (measurements are in American standard measures - no metric conversions) are included for each of the projects (they're gathered into the same section in the back of the book). It's worth noting that this book does not employ any power tools. All the carving is done manually.

Really appealing projects. This would make a superlative selection for a makers' group, home workshop library, gift (with carving tools and some wood?), or similar. This would also appeal to handcrafters looking to learn new skills in the weird lockdown limbo we all find ourselves in these days.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes