Carving & Painting Adorable Animals in Wood: Techniques, Patterns, and Color Guides for 12 Projects

Carve adorable animal figurines that sit up on their own!

12 wood carving projects for a variety of playful animal figures that sit sturdily on a shelf
Complete step-by-step wolf project, followed by 11 more animal designs that you can try on your own
Realistic yet playful style captures the essence of an otter, panda, fox, raccoon, elephant, and more
Hair tracts included for each project, along with the carving patterns and a color guide for painting
Study boards for each project, with texturing, woodburning, and painting techniques you can practice
Helpful tips and notes are provided throughout by author Desiree Hajny, plus a gallery of advanced works
This pattern book contains 12 carving projects for a variety of animals, each beautiful figure designed to sit up on its own!

Not for absolute beginners, this book isn't about the basics of carving, but instead provides those of intermediate skill with new and interesting challenges to practice and improve woodcarving, pyrography, texturing, and painting skills. From pandas and foxes to otters and elephants, each animal design includes a full-size pattern template, hair tract guide, color chart for painting guidance, and helpful reference photos of the finished piece from various angles, so you'll have all the information you need to create the entire collection of cute tchotchkes. With Carving & Painting Adorable Animals in Wood, you'll not only have the cutest collection, you'll also become a better, more advanced artist!

To begin, follow the step-by-step instructions provided to complete a loyal wolf project, from carving to texturing to woodburning to painting. Then, using the skills you have practiced and the carving patterns, hair tracts, and color guides provided, accomplish 11 additional animal projects on your own!

Opening with expert insight on researching subjects, carving, texturing, woodburning, painting, tools, and materials, and packed with helpful tips and notes throughout to help you capture the realistic yet playful essence of each animal, this is the perfect book for any woodcarver looking for engaging challenges that will hone your skills.

Author Desiree Hajny is an award-winning woodcarver, instructor, and Woodcarving Illustrated contributor. She is also one of the founding members of the Caricature Carvers of America (CCA). Desiree has won 25 best-of-show honors, over 150 first place awards, 18 people's choice awards, and the Woodcarving Illustrated Woodcarver of the Year award—so you know you're learning from the best!

These adorable animal figures—knickknacks known as "shelf sitters"—perch perfectly on any shelf, table, or other flat surface to add a bit of playful, outdoorsy nature to your décor. Each project can be created from either a roughed out blank or a band saw cut-out, whichever is more convenient for you. The dozen projects include a wolf, otter, fawn, kangaroo, elephant, fox, chipmunk, bobcat, donkey, raccoon, rabbit, and panda.

Each cute wood-carved animal figure inside Carving & Painting Adorable Animals in Wood makes a beautiful gift on its own—or carve the whole set and create a charming woodland scene!

"'Adorable' is an understatement! Desiree guides the reader through a lovable assortment of critter carvings while teaching invaluable techniques—such as texturing, burning, and painting—that virtually every woodcarver can use to enhance their work."
—Steve French Jr., award-winning trick carver, woodworker, and writer for HomeFixated.com