Hi guys! I’ve recently been gifted some carving knives and I’d like to start carving but I have little to no knowledge, where to start? Books to read? Videos to watch? Artists to follow? Practices to try? I’m just looking to get my feet on the ground with it.
What type of carving do you want to do? I haven’t found any YouTube channels that focus on indigenous carving, but you can find some if you look. There are lots of beginner videos out there for general carving techniques. If you’re looking at Native-style carving there’s a book called Carving Totem Poles and Masks by Alan and Gill Bridgewater. It focuses on tribal artwork of southeast Alaska with some Coast Salish work. The authors are non-Native, but they have good explanations of tools, choosing wood and how to carve the designs/styles with clear illustrations. Good luck and have fun!