Your ultimate beginner-friendly guide to whittling—with a modern twist!
- 14 step-by-step projects and patterns of animals, people, aliens, wands, and other subjects that require minimal painting
- Made for beginners, this whittling project guide only requires wood blocks and one knife to complete the projects
- Helpful guidance on essential whittling basics, selecting wood, making cuts, safety, painting, finishing, and more
- Author James Ray Miller is a protégé of decorated Scandinavian-style carver, Harley Refsal and a regular contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated
Whittling Workbook is perfect for anyone seeking a range of easy wood carvings they can accomplish with just one knife — including the roughing out stage!
All you need are blocks of wood and one knife to achieve the 14 exciting projects featured within these pages (no band saw needed). From a simple strawberry and a whimsical wand to a sea captain, Martian, pig, sunflower, princess, dinosaur, and more, each approachable project includes detailed step-by-step instructions photography, a pattern, reference photos, and helpful tips to walk you through the entire process from start to finish.
Also included are insightful overviews on a wide range of fundamental topics and techniques to equip you with the skills you need before you begin a project. The helpful opening sections cover tools, types of wood, basic carving cuts, painting and finishing techniques, safety notes, and how to join a carving community.
Author James Ray Miller is a recent college graduate and a protégé of decorated Scandinavian-style carver, Harley Refsal. A young and up-and-coming carver, James has been a regular contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated since 2010 and published his first book, Whittling Flat-Plane Animals, with Fox Chapel Publishing in 2020.
Inside these 112 pages, you'll learn everything you need to know about the rewarding woodcraft of whittling. It's the perfect source of inspiration for anyone looking to create relaxing carving projects. For anyone who is picking up a knife for the first time, or for those who want to try something soothing and simple, Whittling Workbook is an accessible resource that offers traditional projects with a modern flair!
Learn how to create projects with elements of classic flat-plane carvings, but that also offer a fresh, contemporary style, with Whittling Workbook!
"This is a must-have for any carving library, whether you're an absolute beginner or have been carving for decades. The information and how-to sections inside are well-thought-out and show that James remembers what it was like to be a new carver. Add to that plenty of projects and a lighthearted approach, and you're in for a ton of fun."
—Kaylee Schofield, Editor, Woodcarving Illustrated magazine
James Ray Miller started carving at age 11 under the guidance of a supportive Community Education carving group. The members of this group introduced him to the Scandinavian flat-plane style, which sparked his ever-expanding interest in Scandinavian culture as a whole. This interest, and the support of mentors, family, and friends, has led him to become the youngest Vesterheim Gold Medalist woodworker, teach several classes, and demonstrate in numerous small-town events. In 2010, James' work appeared in Woodcarving Illustrated for the first time as part of the Best Carving Design Contest. Several years later, through the encouragement of Harley Refsal, he submitted an article to Woodcarving Illustrated's 5th Whittling edition. Since then, he has written several articles for the magazine, and in 2018, he traveled to Norway to meet with talented craftsmen and learn their techniques.
When he's not busy with handcraft, exploring the outdoors, or spending time with his friends, James is at work developing software, where he also happily faces the same challenge he finds in his woodcarving: simplifying and abstracting ideas in unique ways.
