good first carving book

In the next week or so I am going to strat carving cedar decoys with the help of Bill Simonsen. I am gonna use his pattern for my first few. The first couple will just be just basic gunning black ducks. As I carve more I want to find patterns I like or change his pattern more to my own style or a style I like.

What is a good first carver book that has patterns and a lot of pictures? I like pictures! Thanks for the help.

After you acclimate to what goes on with hacking out blocks, just use the specimen as your reference and make your own patterns--Most pattern books are for decorous things!!
Be mindful, you only need half a pattern for the body, and a side view for the head.
Do you want to make lifesize, oversize?

george w wrote:After you acclimate to what goes on with hacking out blocks, just use the specimen as your reference and make your own patterns--Most pattern books are for decorous things!!
Be mindful, you only need half a pattern for the body, and a side view for the head.
Do you want to make lifesize, oversize?

Not sure on life size or oversize. The pattern I am gonna start with is 6 wide 4 high and 15long. I think I will see how they look and go from there I think I Will go to 7 inches wide but not sure about the others. I guess that's as good a place to start as any. I may make it rounder in places but I also like the look of the side pockets like davey does. Not sure if I answered your question but it will be my first time carving

I was just looking at the bookcase, I had a few im pretty sure i got years ago at the tuckerton show. One is "DecoysThe art of the wooden bird" By Richard LeMaster it has a ton of good info, patterns, paint schemes, techniques etc. Another is "How to make working decoys" By George Ross Star Jr MD. same thing, but seems a little more backdated. paging through them I remember using them as guides when I started. Im sure either should be available on amazon or some similar site. cheers and good luck