I've been asked many times for recommendations of books on all aspects of bird carving -
reference, anatomy, painting, patterns and how-to books. So, below is a list of books that I feel would be helpful to any carver, no matter what skill level. These are all books that I have in my
own personal library (which consists of 500+ books and growing).
I've broken them down into categories:
If you are interested in buying any of these books, I've provided a link to amazon.com.
They offer the lowest prices I've found. A new browser window will open and you will be taken
to a page where you will find more info on the book.
A few books mentioned are not sold on amazon.com, however, so I've provided a link to
either the individual's personal web site, or the carving supply company that sells
the book.
You will find both an editorial review of the book as well as my personal comments on
the merits of the book. To read the editorials, hover your mouse cursor over the title.
- Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green
by Michael Wilcox"Artists, designers, printers, and crafters alike would agree that the selection and use of color is of great importance to their work. And yet, a great deal of misunderstanding surrounds color mixing. Michael Wilcox offers a total reassessment for the principles underlying color and color usage. This revised edition of the original Blue & Yellow Don't Make Green--the first major breakaway from the traditional concepts of the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow--contains more than 80 pages of new information on the transparency and makeup of colors and includes many new color mixing swatches."
--Editorial Review--
This is considered the "Bible" of color mixing and properties. This one single book has contibuted more to my understanding of color than years of previous trial and error and experimentation.
--Lori Corbett--
- Color Theory Made Easy
by Jim Ames"Traditional color theory can be confusing to artists, especially when they try to use inaccurate color wheels as guides to mixing their colors. Now Color Theory Made Easy presents an alternative approach that cuts through the tangle of established but contradictory concepts and gives artists a universal theory that really applies to their work.
Most artists have been taucht that red, blue and yellow are the primary colors - hues that cannot be created from any combination of other colors. However, as a result of years of study, author and artist Jim Ames has concluded that the true primary colors are cyan (a greenish blue), magenta (a violet red), and a yellow that does not lean toward either cyan or magenta. In Color Theory Made Easy, Ames explains the importance of these three colors as the basis for all our thinking about color..."
--Editorial Review--
Well written and easy to understand. Lots of illustrations.
--Lori Corbett--
- Color Theory
by José M. ParramónThe Reader Reviews for this book are pretty extensive. Click the link to go to the Amazon.com page. I really like the depth the author goes into with color harmony. Well written book with lots of illustrations. Parramón explains complex concepts in simple, practical language.
--Lori Corbett--
- Color: How to See It, How to Paint It by Judith Martin"A comprehensive, practical guide to understanding color in painting features information on
color materials, color interactions, and using color and step-by-step demonstrations."
--Editorial Review--
Although this was written with the flat artist in mind, there is some terrific information dealing with the properties of color that is equally beneficial to the bird carver.
--Lori Corbett--
The following four books contain absolutely essential information. Without understanding how a bird is put together, one cannot make a good bird - no matter HOW well it is carved and painted.
- Birds: Feet and Legs
by Jack B. Kochan"FEET & LEGS, the first volume in the unique Birds series, offer carvers, painters and students an easy-to-use guide to one of the most complex parts of the bird's anatomy. 'Understanding fully the structure of your subject is the key to creating lifelike carvings and paintings', says author Jack Kochan. To that end, he describes in understandable terms the fundamental structure of birds' feet and legs, from the skeletal and muscular systems to the claws, covering, and plumage. He also explains how to name, number and measure the parts of feet and legs, where the feet and legs are positioned, and how birds use them in the wild. Large scale illustrations offer an invaluable complement to the text, making LEGS & FEET a complete reference for artists and birders alike."
--Editorial Review--
- Birds: Heads and Eyes
by Jack B. Kochan"HEADS & EYES, the second volume in the unique Birds series, offers an easy-to-use guide to one of the most important parts of the birds' anatomy. A bird's head and eyes are the keys to its expression, conveying to the observer the creature's personality. To help students better understand these features, author Jack Kochan describes the form and function of the heads and eyes of dozens of different species, from songbirds and shorebirds to owls and other birds of prey. He also discusses the skeletal structure of the head, its muscular system and plumage, and the movement of the head and the eyes. Charts of eye color and size are included as well. Large-scale illustrations offer an invaluable complement to the text, making HEADS & EYES a complete reference for artists and birders alike."
--Editorial Review--
- Birds: Bills and Mouths
by Jack B. Kochan"BILLS & MOUTHS, the third volume in the unique Birds series, offers a detailed study of two of the most overlooked parts of the bird's anatomy. To help students better understand these features, author Jack Kochan describes the intricacies of the bills and mouths of dozens of bird species, from flamingoes, ducks, and parrots, to songbirds, shorebirds and birds of prey. Included is an examination of the bill's skeletal structure, covering, and coloration, as well as a discussion of the varied functions of birds' beaks and bills. Large-scale illustrations offer an invluable complement to the text, making BILLS & MOUTHS a complete reference for artists and birders alike."
--Editorial Review--
- Birds: Wings and Tails
Jack B. Kochan"WINGS & TAILS, the fourth volume in the unique Birds series, describes in detail what are often the most striking features of the bird's anatomy. Understanding the feather patterns and the underlying skeletal and muscular systems of these features is an important part of the wildfowl artist's success. Author Jack Kochan explains the form and function of the wings and tails of dozens of species, from songbirds and shorebirds to owls and other birds of prey. Large-scale drawings illustrate aspects of these features that are often overlooked. The wing and tail characteristics of more than sixty bird families are also listed."
--Editorial Review--
- Waterfowl: The Artist's Guide to
Anatomy, Attitude & Color
by Richard LeMaster"Utilizing more than 200 photographs, many of them in full color, and more than 100 line drawings, LeMaster has written a masterful study of waterfowl anatomy, including - for the first time in any book - shapes that are assumed by ducks as they fly, swim, stand or sleep. Individual areas of shape and feathers are reviewed and pictured, as are the color structures of the feather and the features that differentiate each species."
-- Editorial Review --
One of the best for duck anatomy. Details how ducks change their shape depending on their attitude, how feathers flow in certain directions and why, wing anatomy, and putting it all together to make a duck. If you are just beginning to carve waterfowl, this book is an essential one for your library.
--Lori Corbett--
- Manual of Ornithology -
Avian Structure & Function
by Noble S. Proctor & Patrick J. LynchThis book-a visual guide to the structure and anatomy of birds-is one of the most heavily illustrated ornithology references ever written. A concise atlas of avian anatomy, it contains more than 200 specially prepared, accurate, and clear drawings that include material never illustrated before. The text is as informative as the drawings; written at a level appropriate to undergraduate students and to bird lovers in general, it explains why birds look and act the way they do.
--Editorial Review--
A very thorough & comprehensive book on avian anatomy. While it is a scietific work intended to supplement ornithology textbooks, it is written at a level that all can understand. In my opinion this book is absolutely essential, and one of my most referred to books. It's impossible to carve a good bird without understanding how it's put together.
--Lori Corbett--
- Anatomy of a Waterfowl
by Charles W. Frank"In this ground-breaking volume, widely acclaimed waterfowl carver and painter Charles W. Frank, Jr., delineates step-by-step procedures for accurately reproducing the myriad colors of waterfowl. Frank...acknowledges that the use of live fowl as models for carvers and painters is the preferred method; however, this is impractical for most craftsmen. In the place of live models, Frank employs detailed full-color photographs, each portraying a different aspect of the bird under discussion..."
--Editorial Review--
This book should be in every waterfowl carver's library. It features many speicies of ducks. For each specie, there are many detailed, close-up photographs of specific areas. With each photo, the author recommends the colors that he would use to achieve the color shown for that area. There are no actual mixed color swatches, but the recommendations are very useful, and spot on. Even if you won't be using this book as a painting guide (why not, I wouldn't know), it is worth the price for the close-up photos alone as carving reference.
--Lori Corbett--
- The Great Gallery of
Ducks and Other Waterfowl
by Richard LeMasterAnother book that should be in every carver's library. The close up photos are outstanding. The author also points out key features in specific areas of the featured bird. This is a quality book that is equally at home on the coffee table as it is on the shelf.
--Lori Corbett--
- Wildlife in Wood
by Richard LeMaster"In this first-of-its-kind book, the author opens up a whole world of facts and guidelines for duck carvers, including:
hundreds of unique photos showing minute details of important features, basic duck anatomy for the layman, tips on training your eye and interpreting photographs, guidelines for understanding the fine details of feathers, tips on attitude and motion, information on recreating the duck's changeable colors, directions for the proper use of tools and materials, step-by-step photos for putting it all together."
-- Editorial Review --
This book isn't easy to find now. Copies do occasionally come up on amazon.com or eBay.
It is well worth the beginner's time to locate a copy of this book for the library.
There are also scaled-down patterns in the book for 15 species of waterfowl, some
for both drakes and hens.
--Lori Corbett--
- Complete Waterfowl Studies - Vol. 1
Dabbling & Whistling Ducks
by Bruce Burk"These photographs...show structural detail and body form taken from many different angles. Our waterfowl are pictured here in almost every conceivable position on land, on water, and in the air. Written introductions cover interesting facts and highlights of each species' habits and habitats."
-- Editorial Review --
Great reference book. Even though most of the photos are black-and-white,
it is still a valuable resource for anatomy and attitude. There are 12 species
covered in this volume: Mallard, Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Carolina Wood Duck,
American Widgeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall,
Northern Shoveler, Fulvous Whistling Duck and Black-bellied Whistling Duck.
--Lori Corbett--
- Complete Waterfowl Studies - Vol. 2
Diving Ducks
by Bruce Burk"These photographs...show structural detail and body form taken from many different angles. Our waterfowl are pictured here in almost every conceivable position on land, on water, and in the air. Written introductions cover interesting facts and highlights of each species' habits and habitats."
-- Editorial Review --
Great reference book. Even though most of the photos are black-and-white,
it is still a valuable resource for anatomy and attitude. There are 20 species
covered in this volume: Canvasback, Redhead, Greater and Lesser Scaups, Harlequin,
American Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck,
Old Squaw (Long-tailed Duck), Hooded Merganser, American Merganser, Red-breasted
Merganser, Surf Scoter, American White-winged Scoter, Steller's Eider, King Eider,
American Eider, Pacific Eider and Spectacled Eider.
--Lori Corbett--
- Complete Waterfowl Studies - Vol. 3
Geese & Swans
by Bruce Burk"These photographs...show structural detail and body form taken from many different angles. Our waterfowl are pictured here in almost every conceivable position on land, on water, and in the air. Written introductions cover interesting facts and highlights of each species' habits and habitats."
-- Editorial Review --
Great reference book. Even though most of the photos are black-and-white, it is still a valuable resource for anatomy and attitude. There are 13 species covered in this volume: Canada Goose (Ten sub-species of Canada Goose), Atlantic & Pacific Brant, Emporer Goose, Pacific White-fronted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Lesser Snow & Blue Goose, Ross's Goose, Barnacle Goose, Red-breasted Goose, Nene Goose, Whistling Swan, Trumpeter Swan and Mute Swan.
--Lori Corbett--
- Prairie Wings
by Edgar M. Queeny"Explanatory sketches by Richard E. Bishop. This is the classic, beautiful study about the migratory birds in flight over the Arkansas Prairie. Originally published in 1946 by Ducks Unlimited, it now is loved by a new audience of bird enthusiasts. Through exciting photographs and line drawings, the elusive mechanics of flight are illustrated."
-- Editorial Review --
255 pages of FANTASTIC flight photography! There are photos of every conceivable position
of waterfowl in flight. Some extreme positions, as well.
Many sequential photos of various aspects of flight...launching, landing, turning, etc.
The supplemental drawing are also invaluable.
--Lori Corbett--
Back to "Reference Books"
- Carving Award-Winning Songbirds
by Lori CorbettFOX CHAPEL PUBLLISHING EDITORIAL:
Create Realistic Songbirds with this Comprehensive, One-Stop Resource
Lori Corbett - one of the most respected names in bird carving-gives you a seat at her workbench with this in-depth guide to creating realistic songbirds. Carving Award-Winning Songbirds is an extensive, one-stop resource with all the expert guidance you need to succeed, and is a must-have book for any carver who wants to bring their songbird carving to the championship level.
With more than 850 color photos and 100 illustrations, this book unlocks all the tricks of the trade, and will be constantly referred to when carving any songbird. You will "look over the author's shoulder" as you learn all the latest tips and techniques of one of the world's great bird carvers.
Inside are three detailed step-by-step demonstrations to help build your carving and painting skills, including tools and materials, bird anatomy, texturing feathers, planning dramatic poses, painting and much more.
For the complete editorial, click on the Whispering Eagle Studio link under the book cover image
Whispering Eagle Studio
- Beginning Decorative Decoy Painting
by Dennis SchroederEach book is dedicated to a single specie:
Green-winged Teal Drake
Pintail Drake
Lesser Scaup Drake
Bufflehead Drake
Redhead Drake
Ruddy Drake
Wood Duck Drake
Mallard Drake
Canvasback Drake
Widgeon Drake
Good baisc stuff for painting your decoy - working or decorative. Each area of the bird is treated separately, then all is brought together. The author makes use of the airbrush for blending, but he explains how the techniques can be easily adapted to brush blending. These books are great for the beginning decoy painter.
--Lori Corbett--
Sugar Pine Woodcarving
- Beginning Decorative Decoy Carving
by Dennis SchroederEach book is dedicated to a single specie:
Green-winged Teal Drake
Lesser Scaup Drake
Bufflehead Drake
Redhead Drake
Ruddy Drake
Wood Duck Drake
Canvasback Drake
These books detail the methods of carving the ducks that are painted in the series
listed above, "BEGINNING DECORATIVE DECOY PAINTING".
Good baisc stuff to carve a nice bird. The author takes this to carving various
feather groups, then touches on carving and texturing individual feathers, but doesn't go too deeply into this. For those wanting to carve and paint a smooth bird, these books are
good. Dennis Schroeder has some of the nicest lines on his waterfowl that I've seen. He really captures the essence of the bird.
--Lori Corbett--
Sugar Pine Woodcarving
- Game Bird Carving
by Bruce BurkConsidered the "Bible" of game bird carving books. This is the one that got many carvers started. Even though some of the methods are dated (due mostly to new and different materials available today), there is still lots of good, solid information here. This and the LeMaster books are the classics. This book is the Third Edition.
--Lori Corbett--
- Decoys: The Art of the
Wooden Bird
by Richard LeMasterThis book is out of print. Copies do occasionally come up on amazon.com or eBay.
This is one of the books and carvers that "got it all started". It is full of
axioms for locating various features on the duck. It also points out the most
common errors beginning carvers make and ways to prevent making them in the first
place.
--Lori Corbett--
