High Relief Wood Carving

These dramatic wood carving projects are exciting to look at—and they show off your skill as no low relief carving can. The astounding detail and startling effectiveness of the finished work make high relief carving a much sought-after technique.

William Schnute is one of the outstanding masters of high relief carving who has earned a national following. Now, for the first time, he reveals the secrets that make his work so very special-secrets learned over 30 years of wood carving experience. He gives technical advice and artistic guidance as he tells you everything you need to know to produce beautiful high relief carving yourself.

The wealth of styles and devices shown here ranges from leaves and flowers to birds, fruits, human figures, and ornamental borders and motifs which add eye-catching flourishes to the handsome carvings. The explanations of often-neglected considerations such as lighting and perspective can make the difference between a simple carving and artistic sculpture.

Included are a complete floor plan for an efficient woodworking shop, an in-depth discussion of different woods and wood finishes, up-to-the-minute advice on the latest ad-hesives, and time-saving tips on using power tools to get past the drudge work and down to fine carving.