An essential guide to wood carving from esteemed craftsman Stephen Myhre

Wood Carving: Tools, Techniques & Concepts

Stephen Myhre

After spending decades devoted to the art of carving, acclaimed New Zealand artist Stephen Myhre shares his expertise in his second book,  Wood Carving: Tools, Techniques & Concepts.

This how-to guide covers every aspect of wood carving from selecting the right wood to understanding patterns and achieving the perfect finish. 

‘The kaupapa (purpose) of this new book is to meet the need for a coherent description of how to prepare, maintain and use a set of wood-carving tools to produce competent, good-quality work,’ Myhre writes.

‘Not all carvers need to become professionals, so this book is not aimed at them, but there are still many who want to carve and the teaching resources to do so are few and far between.’

Wood Carving surveys the diversity and richness of European, Māori, and South Pacific carving styles, applying traditional and modern techniques to create pieces including a waka huia (treasure box). 

Superb colour photos take the reader through every step of the carving process, and include examples of the author’s finished work. 

Like his first book Bone Carving: A Skillbase of Techniques and Concepts, which was in print for over 35 years and sold more than 50,000 copies, Wood Carving will be an essential guide to this craft.

The Author

Stephen Myhre is a renowned artist who has been carving in wood, jade, bone and other materials since the 1970s. After many years living overseas and absorbing a range of Pacific, European and Asian influences, he now has his studio in Paraparaumu Beach. 

Publication Date: 14 August 2025 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004283-6 |  RRP $49.99

Paperback, 250 x 185 mm portrait, 160 pages colour