Chris Pye's Biography

Carver

 

Chris Pye began woodcarving in 1975, originally studying under master carver Gino Masero. He is a member of the prestigious Master Carvers Association.

Typically, Chris leaves his carvings straight from the chisel, although he uses other finishes where it seems appropriate. Most of Chris's work is commissioned. He has designed and carved across a very broad range of subjects and styles: from the traditional, through modern, to post-modern; from the photographically realistic to the utterly whimsical; from low- to high-relief; and from the purely ornamental, through lettercarving, to studio-quality stand-alone pieces. He carves architecturally, on turning and on furniture. His in-the-round work ranges from figure carving to mythical or abstract sculpture.

 

Writer

Magazines. Chris has written nearly 100 articles, including tool and book reviews for magazines like Woodcarving (UK) and Woodcarving Illustrated (USA).

Books. Chris's books - with some translated into German, French or Russian - include:

• Woodcarving Tools, Materials, and Equipment (GMC Publications, 1995. Revised and Expanded, in two volumes, 2002)
• Carving on Turning (GMC Publications, 1995)
• Lettercarving in Wood (GMC Publications, 1997)
• Relief Carving: A Practical Introduction (GMC Publications, 1998)
• Elements of Woodcarving (GMC Publications, 2000)
• Woodcarving Projects and Techniques (GMC Publications, 2007)
• Chris Pye's Woodcarving Course & Reference Manual (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2010)

 

Other. In 2000, Chris began writing Slipstones Woodcarving Manuals. These (some 18) were short, self-contained, instructional documents, for free download as .pdfs from Chris's website. More than a quarter million have been downloaded but they are no longer availalable. 

Slipstones will be available again sometime in the future, published in collaboration with Fox-Chapel.

 

 

Teacher

Classroom Instruction: Chris Pye has been teaching woodcarving to groups and individuals, from his home shop in England, for many years. He also teaches at West Dean College, near Chichester, UK.

Annually, since 1997, Chris has been a faculty member at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine, USA, In 2010 he taught at Haystack Mountain School of Arts and Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine USA.

Web-based Instruction: In April 2011, Chris, with his wife and partner Carrie Camman, launched the online, video-rich, woodcarving instructional site: Woodcarving Workshops.tv - dedicated to the learning and love of woodcarving.

 

DVDs

• Sharpening Techniques (American Craftsman Publications, 2007)
• Essential Lettercarving Techniques (American Craftsman Publications, 2007)
• Ornamental Carving (American Craftsman Publications, 2007)

Toolmaker

Chris Pye has invented and re-designed many useful carving  tools, of which several have been manufactured:

• Flat # 2 ½ Gouges (with Ashley Iles Edge Tools Ltd)
• Deep Undercutting Tools (with Ashley Iles Edge Tools Ltd) - shown right.
• Innovative Woodcarvers Slipstones (with Norton Abrasive Ltd)

In 2010 Chris was involved in re-designing Auriou woodcarving tools for their re-launch, which happened in Summer 2011.