Woodcarving Illustrated FEatures Mood-boosting Summer Projects & Several ARtist Features

May 2020

Lancaster, PA — The summer 2020 issue of Woodcarving Illustrated is now available and provides numerous projects that exude feel-good summer vibes. This is an especially important issue given our current state of affairs as we tackle the Covid-19 crisis. Now more than ever, woodcarvers crave projects to stay engaged in woodcraft and to provide gifts to loved ones.

One project, for example, may prove to be a source of comfort for both carver and recipient. Comfort Animals are stylized animals that are smooth to the touch and feel secure in the palm—giving a comforting feeling when holding them. The magazine features a Comfort Turtle project by Steven Kulp. For carvers who want to explore this technique further, a new stand-alone booklet is also available called Carving Comfort Animals: 7 Simple Projects for the Beginner.

“The Woodcarving Illustrated team knows that creative pursuits can be deeply therapeutic in times of stress. We gathered these projects with that purpose in mind.”
~ Kaylee Schofield, Associate Editor

The summer issue also features the work of three talented artists. Emmet Van Driesche from western Massachusetts shows how he uses Instagram to bring the wooden spoon community together, uniting generations and fellow spoon lovers around the world. An article on useful spoon carving tools accompanies the piece.

Utah-based chip carver Amy Costello is also spotlighted. Costello is the host of Teach with Your Hands podcast, and her complex chip carving designs have gained recognition in the woodcarving community and beyond. In the magazine, she shares how to make your own beautifully-designed chip carved bowl.

Belgium-based artist Julien Feller completes the trifecta of woodcarvers spotlighted in this issue. Feller carves boxwood glueups into delicate panels of lace, creating stunning paper-thin masterpieces (image featured above).

Carvers will also enjoy many other projects and inspirations in this issue that cover a variety of form. From woodburning a sunflower weave to whittling a ladybug, each project will put the inventiveness of its carver on full display. As editor Kaylee Schofield says, “Carvers are a positive force to be reckoned with, highly adaptable and inventive with the materials at our disposal. And we will keep creating because it brings us joy—because it is instinctual—no matter what.”