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.