Everything You Need to Know to Start Carving Wood or Hone Your Craft. Woodcarving, with its cultural roots in African, North American, and Oceanic cultures, has been a powerful art form for centuries. Woodcarving reviews this rich history, then focuses on the properties of various woods and the sculpting, sharpening, and finishing tools used on them. Various chapters are devoted to constructing the wood block, carving and handling wood, and finishing and displaying the piece. Anchoring and amplifying the lessons learned within this book are detailed demonstrations of the creation of six sculptures. With clear, lavishly illustrated hands-on instruction and exhaustive coverage of every aspect of woodcarving techniques, Woodcarving is the ideal handbook for beginning- to intermediate-level sculptors.