Lettercarving in Wood A Practical Course

A comprehensive guide to design and technique. In Chris Pye’s Lettercarving In Wood, the author takes you from the bare wood to the artfully styled end product. Beginning with essential background information – tools, suitable woods, making working drawings – Pye lays the groundwork for those new to the craft, and provides a good refresher for experienced lettercarvers.

A progressive course in one volume. Using both historical and modern photos, as well as detailed drawings, Pye explores the techniques needed through detailed exercises. By following along, lettercarvers of any skill level can create a complete incised alphabet in the modern Roman style. Lettering on your projects adds remarkable elegance and an unmistakable personal touch.

Includes nine step-by-step projects. Whether you’re new to the craft or an experienced lettercarver, you’ll enjoy the detailed projects Pye includes here, accompanied by photos, examples, and drawings. Among them:

• Simple signs
• Decorative lettering on a bowl
• Lettering on a breadboard
• A name stamp and more

Advanced instruction for developing your techniques. For carvers interested in progressing to more varied lettering, Pye includes essentials of lettering design: spacing, color, family resemblance, and optical adjustment of letters. To help you develop your technique, he’s included six other letter styles complete with full explanations and illustrations.

Chris Pye has been carving professionally for over 20 years. He started carving for a house-sign company, being paid per letter. Hundreds of signs later he had perfected an efficient and precise way of lettering, which he shares here. Chris writes regularly for Woodcarving magazine, and has written other books on carving. In addition to teaching woodcarving for all abilities, his is ordained into the Western Buddhist Order. He lives in Herefordshire, England with his family.