Santa’s List

Discover a unique painting technique that provides a stunning depth of color

By Kevin Applegate

Cottonwood Bark Santa

Embrace the uniqueness of this free-form wood and use its flaws to your advantage

By Bob Hershey

White Christmas Bear

This friendly guy is ready to spread some cheer during the holidays

By Dale Green

Lumberjack Santa

Carve an undercover Claus who’s hunting for the perfect Christmas tree

By Jonathan Creason

Arctic Fox

Practice carving movement with this frosty creature on the run

By Wouter de Bruijn

Happy Christmas Tree

Get into the holiday spirit with a cheerful carving that looks like a cartoon character

By Gerard Canavan

Bottle Buddy Santa

Create a gift that keeps on giving with a jolly bottle opener

By Dwayne Gosnell

Santa Pyrography

A few basic woodburning nibs create a jolly and easy holiday wall hanging

By Minisa Robinson

Christmas Elf

Showcase the hard workers of the North Pole as they prepare for Santa’s big night

By Matt Kincade

Caricature Candy Cane

Big posable hands and friendly expressions make these ornaments irresistible

By Pete Zanauskas

Elf Boot Ornament

These festive little ornaments make a charming jingle jangle

By Wade Huggins

Festive Rolling Pins

Cook up a chip-carved holiday cookie press 

By Jan Jenson

Chip-Carved Ornaments

A layer of acrylic paint accentuates a festive design

By Charlene Lynum

Old Fashioned Ornaments

Imitate the look of retro glass decorations with this fun project

By Jim Hiser

Two-in-One Knife Box

Keep carving tools safe and ready to go with this compact geometric case

By Marty Leenhouts

Think Sharp

Behind the blade with Flexcut’s product manager Matt Retkowski
By Dorissa Bolinski

Peace, Man

Follow this guy to the biggest festival of the summer

By Bruce Ankeny

Classic Gnome

Walk in the enchanted forest with this friendly little character

By Mehmet Berat Tas

Magical Seahorse

Carve an elegant decoration that’s sure to please any fan of the open sea

By Birce Keser

Wacky Blade Cover

This funny tool guard will protect your favorite knife

By Mark Akers

Hummingbird and Crane

Soar above the clouds with miniature birds in flight

By Steve Tomashek

Crop Circles Frame

Use a burr meant for roughing out to carve a textured design

By Kristin LeVier

Realistic Atlantic Salmon

Reel in a trophy fish that looks like the real thing

By Charles Weiss

Celtic Chip Carving

Create a wall hanging or decorate a box lid with an ancient design

By Blandine Champagneur

Salty Sea Captain

Embark on a high seas adventure with a friendly seafaring gent

By Jonathan Creason

Happy Hopper

This charming fishing frog is ready to star in his own fairy tale

By Alice Wang

Diamond Rosettes

Take chip carving to the next level with four unique geometric designs

By Nikolas Rocha

Walking Farmer

Get a groove on and put some movement into your carvings

By Blake Lunsford

Sunflower Starburst

Catch the summer sun in a medium relief carving that exudes happiness

By Dustin Strenke

Easy Dolphin

Whittle a sweet, pocket-sized sea mammal

By Tom Hindes

Mustache Man

Curve the centerline to add interest and a natural flow to carvings

By Dave Dion

Carving it Up in Colorado

Woodchips fly at the annual Carvin’ the Rockies show

By Dorissa Bolinski

Santa’s Journey Home

Stars light the way for a weary St. Nick whose work is done

By Dale Green

Black-capped Chickadee

A found branch adds a touch of the natural world to a minimalist carving

By Wouter de Bruijn

The Gift Bearer

Welcome a friendly mouse to your house for the holidays

By Matt Kincade

Christmas Pickle Ornament

Have a chuckle searching the tree for this hiding prankster

By Jonathan Creason

Stumbling Santa

A sense of movement highlights this animated clumsy Santa

By Robert Rangel

Winter Barn Scene

Carve and paint a rustic winter landscape that’s easier than it looks

By Robert Stadtlander

Candle Choir

Add expressive character with easy shading and highlighting techniques

By Betty Padden

Undercover Santa

This jolly guy has a green thumb and a lesson to teach

By Russell Scott

Retro Christmas Ornament

Carve a string of festive holiday lights that will never shatter or burn out

By Brian K. Doty

Chip Carved Dala Horse

Frolicking folklore design makes
a charming decoration

By Charlene Lynum

Christmas Mornin’ Bear

This sleepy guy had a long night wrapping presents

By Rich Wetherbee

Steampunk Santa

Stylish fantasy Santa is ready for
a sci-fi adventure

By Tony Harris

Wine Rack

Showcase a wine bottle and glasses
with a chip-carved display

By Marty Leenhouts

Easy Christmas Tree

Stuff some stockings with these
tiny topiaries

By David Young

Carved Christmas Wreath

Strategic layering and undercutting lend depth to a festive decoration

By Mary May

Getting Schooled

Teaching dynamo Richard Embling shares his passion for woodcarving with students everywhere

By Dorissa Bolinski

Whitetail Deer

Practice carving delicate appendages with this easy but measured design

By James Ray Miller

Oak Leaf and Acorn Pendant

Capture the beauty of nature within the fluid lines of this organic necklace

By Slavica Popovska

Baxter the Ghoulish Gourd

Wow your neighbors this Halloween with the coolest pumpkin on the block

By Lundy Cupp

Wood Spirit with Raven and Wand

Conjure a magical man of the woods with a found log and some carving bits

By Edgar Shrum

Carving a Cherokee Bear

A stylized design and a good sanding really make this piece of cedar pop

By James “Bud” Smith

Monster Magnet

Bring this funny mummy to life with strategic cuts and an eye on dimension

By Richard Embling

Glowing Soap Ghost

Turn a simple DIY soap into a cute spectral gathering

By Janet Bolyard

Tall Hat Wizard

Add movement, shadow, and personality to your caricatures by removing a whole lotta wood

By Jim Feather

Axe of Strength

Protect your favorite carving knife with a Viking-worthy blade cover

By Nick Kelam

Decorative Salad Bowl

Turn, texture, and color your own dinner party showstopper

By Luke Voytas

Ichabod’s Flight

Carve and stylize a folk-art figurine that looks like a rustic heirloom

By Jill Motovidlak

5-Point Star Rosette

Acrylic paint and gel stain add flair to an easy chip-carved coaster

By Marty Leenhouts

Agatha the Witch

Gluing layers prior to carving adds dimension for spellbinding results

By Betty Padden

Haunted Statue Caricature

Try a scary texturizing technique for this ghostly guy

By Jerry McNulty

Autumn Lighthouse

Subtle washes of acrylic paint give life to a tranquil fall scene

By Fred and Elaine Stenman

Whittled Fantasy Pencil

Give a drab desk some personality with this quirky one-knife project

By Lieve Roelants

Getting Started

Brace your middle finger on the side of the basswood block to sketch a centerline all the way around the top, front, bottom, and back faces. Then sketch on the main details from the front view pattern: the overall shape and the positioning of the face and feet.

Step 1

Slice around the front view. Start by slicing to the sides of the head. Position your knife near the top of the wings and slice upward. Continue this on both sides, angling each cut until all waste around the front view pattern is gone. Repeat toward the bottom.

Step 2

Slice around the side view. Sketch the side view pattern onto the wood. To help keep things even, sketch this pattern on the opposite side as well, making sure to make it face the same way. Then, similar to the previous step, slice all the way around it. Stop-cut above the feet and to separate the beak from the body to form V-shaped cuts across these areas.

Step 3

Round off the corners. Using slices as bold as you are comfortable with, remove the corners all the way around the owl. You will have to slice up from about halfway to round the head and down from a similar point to round the bottom half.

Step 4

Separate the feet from the body. Deepen the separation between feet and body and round the corners of this protruding shelf with stop cuts that angle slightly downward toward each end. At this point, you can still leave the feet thicker than they will be at the end for added strength during the carving process.

Step 5

Define the face. Use the tip of your knife to incise a curved line from the corners of where the eyes will be down to the tip of the beak on both sides. Then remove some wood underneath those incisions by slicing upward to meet them. If the face appears completely flat from the side, round its edges a bit.

Step 6

Bring out the beak. Make a series of small stop cuts to separate the beak from the surrounding feathers. After this step, the outline of the beak will appear diamond-shaped.

Step 7

Separate the feet from each other. Stop-cut between the feet, slicing across the grain and removing the V-shaped section that results. Then take off the inner corners of the feet with another two pairs of stop cuts.

Step 8

Suggest the wings. Slice straight into the wood from the side of the owl with nearly the full edge of your knife. Then remove a V-shaped section of wood between the wing and belly by slicing in to meet that cut from the belly. Repeat on the other side.

Step 9

Cut between the ear tufts. Make two stop cuts on top of the head to denote the inward faces of the ear tufts. Then slice across the end grain to remove the wood between them.

Step 10

Shape the sides of the ear tufts. To complete the look of the ear tufts, make the sides of them concave. Slice in from the side of the top of the head and curve the knife back out of the wood to achieve this. Repeat on both sides. Perform similar cuts in front of the ear tufts to make them stand straight up.

 Step 11

Ruffle the belly feathers. Texture the belly with some small and systematic sweeping cuts. I orchestrated these cuts to all have about the same angle, slanted down toward the center, on both sides so that they are placed somewhat symmetrical overall. This angle also helps these cuts stay clean and not tear out the grain.

 Step 12

Add the finishing touches. Work around the owl and make final adjustments to remove unwanted bumps and ensure everything is in order. Some owls have a clear distinction between the head and the body, and I represented that here via a V-shaped cut that arcs under the face. Brush with an oil finish and let dry.

MATERIALS

• Basswood: 2-1/2″ (6.4cm) thick: 1-1/4″ (3.2cm) square

• Pencil

• Finish, such as Danish oil

TOOLS

• Whittling knife

• Paintbrush

James Ray Miller started carving at the age of 11 after being inspired by family members who dabbled in woodworking. A software developer by trade, James enjoys the creative challenge of simplifying and abstracting forms in unique ways. For more of his work, visit Facebook.com/jrm.woodcarving.

Magic Touch

Cecilia Schiller’s entertaining automata encourage interaction

By Dorissa Bolinski

Stylish Leprechaun Caricature

Practice adding accessories with this swaggering man-about-town

By Mehmet Berat Tas

Buckle Up!

Fun and wearable carving might encourage some fish stories

By Bob Kozakiewicz

Chip Carved Bracelet

Easy bangle makes an impressive statement piece

By Charlene Lynum

It’s Elementary!

Solve the riddle of capturing a caricature’s essence with this ode to Sherlock Holmes

By Kevin Applegate

Butterfly and Flower Pyrography

A clever coloring technique gives life to this organic wood burning

By Shannon Lyon

Desk Clock

Set aside some time to chip carve this striking office accessory

By Marty Leenhouts

Realistic Walleye

Whopping trophy is a fisherman’s dream

By Charles Weiss

Caricature-Chef Bottle Stopper

Add some joie de vivre to your dinners with this quick and fun carve

By W. Todd Martin

Interlocking Heart Relief

Surprise your one-and-only with a piece of Celtic-inspired wall art

By Lisa Laughy

Carving a Leaf Spoon

Finish this nature-inspired utensil with milk paint accents

By Elizabeth Weber

Stylized Shorebird

Smooth avian project puts the “sand” in “sanderling”

By Wouter de Bruijn

Power-Carved Bullfrog

Sculpt a full-size pond dweller so lifelike, you’ll expect him to ribbit

By B. David Duncan

Balancing Stones

Find your Zen with this easy branch whittling project

By L. P. Parslow

My Cat Pearl

This cute calico caricature is ready to pounce

By Floyd Rhadigan

Flying Dragon

Flat-plane carving style lends a scaly look to this beast of lore

By Dave Atkin

Easy Gnome

Build your confidence with a simple face you don’t have to paint

By Birce Keser

Soap Rabbit

Quickly carve a nest of bunnies to brighten any bathroom

By Makiko Sone

Power-Carved Eagle Log

Different colors of wood from the same log make this bird of prey soar

By Jordy Johnson

Making a Hook Knife

Treat your spoon projects to a handmade tool that’s inexpensive to construct

By Doug Stowe

Alphabetical Arboretum Woodcut

From A to Z, these leaves make an attractive handmade print

By Beth Lewis

Carving the Heart

Use a 3/8″ (10mm)-dia. drill bit to drill a 5/8″ (16mm)-deep hole in the bottom of the blank. Then, transfer the pattern to the wood and use a scroll or coping saw to cut the outline.

Use the tip of a bench knife to make stop cuts along the lines that separate the hearts, both front and back. Notice that the bottom heart is both larger and thicker than the two hearts above it. Starting with the smallest heart, use the bench knife to round and shape the edges of the heart and then carve away wood along the sides down to the stop cut. Repeat for the middle and then bottom hearts.

Finishing the Stopper

You can sand the hearts if you like, but I prefer to see the texture of the carving marks—it adds a dimension and depth to the painted project.

Wipe the carving with a soft rag, and then use red acrylic to paint it. After the stopper has dried, use a stiff paintbrush and metallic gold paint to dry-brush the hearts, highlighting the carving marks. When the gold paint is dry, spray the carving with matte finish.

Put a few drops of cyanoacrylate (CA) glue into the hole in the carving and insert a dowel. Measure the cork against the dowel, mark the length, and cut off the excess dowel. Put CA glue in the cork and insert the dowel.

MATERIALS

• Basswood, 1″ (2.5cm) thick: 3″ x 4″ (7.6cm x 10.2cm)

• Hardwood dowel, 3/8″ (10mm)-dia. or size to fit hole in cork: 3″ (7.6cm) long

• Pencil

• Sandpaper (optional)

• Soft rag

• Acrylic paints: red, metallic gold

• Spray finish: matte

• Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue

• Pre-drilled cork stopper (available at craft and woodcarving stores)

TOOLS:

• Scroll or coping saw

• Drill with bits: 3/8″ (10mm)-dia or size to fit hole in cork

• Bench knife

• Paintbrushes

Greg Young is a chaplain with the FBI and a psychological debriefer and trainer for two Wisconsin police departments. He teaches courses around the country on crisis response and intervention, and responds to disasters locally and nationally. Teaching and practicing woodcarving is, in part, what Greg does to take care of himself.

Beginner’s Guide to Finishes

There are many different approaches to finishing a carving—where to start? Here are some tips

By Staff of Woodcarving Illustrated

Carving the Classics

Mary May’s lush, old-world woodwork transports us to an elegant past

By Dorissa Bolinski

Stylized Christmas Tree with Ornaments

Carve and trim this tree from the comfort of your workbench

By Dave Kergan

20-Minute Whittled Wolf

Quickly carve this woodland creature in a flat-plane style

By Tom Hindes

Stovepipe Hat Santa

This cool guy in a jaunty topper is stepping out for the holidays

By Dave Francis

Waddling Wally

Let this charming penguin keep you warm on a cold day

By Gerard Canavan

Mouse in a Mitten

Stir up some sweetness with this quick and cute carve

By Robert Rangel

Sound Asleep Santa Ornament

This free-falling design is sure to land on your list of favorite winter baubles

By Rick Stoddard

Snowman Caricature

This season, carve up a character who just can’t wait for the flurries to fall

By Bruce Ankeny

Geometric Star

Use chip carving techniques to make a striking (and beginner-friendly) gift

By Mary May

Easy Iceberg and Penguins

Whittle a sweet Antarctic scene using just a knife and some scrap wood

By L. P. Parslow

Lantern and Berries Layered Ornament

A warm candle lights the night in this cozy window scene

By Betty Padden

Tree Man Ornament

This gnome-like caricature is a perfect first carving project

By James Spencer

After the Sleigh Ride Santa Caricature

Santa deserves a rest after his gift-giving spree wraps up

By Bruce Ankeny

Stocking Ornaments

Bundle up your Christmas tree with these cozy little chip-carved decorations

By Charlene Lynum

Folk Art Farm Animals

Put your own spin on these rustic barnyard beauties

By Jill Motovidlak

 Comfort Rhino

Quiet your worries with a smooth creature that fits perfectly in your palm

By Tom Mellott

Singing Christmas Trees

Who needs a barbershop quartet when you have a choir of expressive evergreens?

By Russell Scott

Simple Santa Whistle

Make some noise for the holidays with this old-fashioned toy

By W. Todd Martin

Firefighter Caricature Busts

Striking facial expressions and subtle paint washes bring this brave crew to life

By Kevin Applegate

Kirigami Snowflake

Reimagine a classic childhood project—in wood!

By Paul Bruillard

Icicle Ornaments

Chip carve 3D icicles with this easy-to-follow technique

By Charlene Lynum