Category Archives: carving

Gouge Article and Thumbnail Cuts

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Dave Fisher

In the current issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine, #288 Mar/Apr 2021, is an article in which I suggest seven or eight gouges that form a solid kit for greenwood carving. One of them is a #8 10mm gouge that can … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, patterns, tools, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Library Bench

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Dave Fisher

Sometime around 1980 I borrowed a Charlie Brown book from the Greenville Public Library. Then I lost it, then found it three years later. I don’t remember if any late fees were ever paid. What a scoundrel. This fall, I … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, cherry, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 37 Comments

Love and Coffee

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Dave Fisher

I’ve missed out on a love affair with coffee.  Seems like just about everyone else has had one and most of them last a lifetime.  Long before iced-coffees became chic, my grandfather loved cold black coffee.  He kept it in … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, finding wood, layout, Lettering, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

Catching up with the Bowl Horse

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Dave Fisher

There are many ways to get to a bowl horse.  If you’re still thinking about adding one to your shop, I’ll recap some of the options, including some new possibilities. My first bowl horse concept, seen in the photo above, … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, holding, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Making the Best of It

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Dave Fisher

Limits encourage creativity.  This is evident in many aspects of life, such as when a resourceful home cook manages to create a splendid meal from the few things left in the cupboard.  Or when an aging athlete expertly adapts his … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, finding wood, layout, Lettering, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 26 Comments

Wishes for a Peaceful New Year

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Dave Fisher

When it is peaceful and quiet, using the knife will not break the tranquility.  Sometimes there will be other things to listen to, such as conversation, music, the singing of the birds or wind rushing through the leaves.  Indeed, sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, green woodworking, quotes and excerpts, spoons, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Short Lettercarving Video

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Dave Fisher

At Spoonfest, Tom Hepworth filmed Barn and I talking briefly about carving letters with a knife.  I also demonstrated how I go about cutting a letter.  Tom posted the video to Youtube not long ago, and here it is.  Just … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, Lettering, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Dragon Orthodontics

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Dave Fisher

I roughed out this cherry ale bowl during the green stage months ago, and now I’ve gotten around to refining it in the dry stage, including carving a set of choppers, a point of pride for any dragon. After sketching … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, carving, cherry, patterns, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Re-Carving

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Dave Fisher

I’m more adept with light and shadow than with color.  I wonder, in fact, if I haven’t carved away more paint than I’ve put on.  But I can be stubborn perseverant. The top photo shows a bowl shortly after I … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, paint, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Let Follansbee be Your Guide

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Dave Fisher

About a decade ago, my mind was blown by the boxes and furniture that Peter Follansbee was talking about on his blog.  There he was splitting up oak logs into boards and joining them together.  Well, how do you not … Continue reading →

Posted in books, carving, green woodworking, historical reference, publications, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments