The information in this book covers free-form carving as it applies to jewelry. Most of the information also applies to other forms of carving although the tools used may be very different. For example, if you want to carve something the size of Mt. Rushmore, you will need a lot of dynamite. I think a common misconception of hard rock carving is that it is difficult to do. If you take nothing else from this book I hope to at least dispel that idea. Carving does require patience, however, it is not difficult. Arguably, it is easier than carving soapstone, as the work is done with power tools, not elbow grease. I usually tell beginners to expect six to ten hours per square inch on your early carvings. This will vary some depending on the complexity of the carving and your experience, never the less, it does give a rough time scale to start with. The information in this book is sufficient to allow a beginner to complete simple carvings and gain enough confidence to go on to more complex work. Hopefully, the ideas presented here will give experienced carvers additional approaches, as well as, answer some nagging questions. Look for the companion DVD "Beginning Gemstone and Jewelry Carving Using Hard Rubber Wheels" for more information on carving.
About the Author: Richard "Dick" Friesen has been carving and teaching for almost twenty years throughout the western United States. At the request of many of his students, he has finally taken the time to write a book on Beginning Gemstone Carving. This book is written with the beginning carver in mind, and covers both the skill set needed and the equipment necessary to take a piece from rough to finished stone, ready for setting. Dick is a Master Carver, and has designed carving equipment, tools, and DVDs which are currently sold through his business, Dick Friesen Custom Jewelry, and also by Diamond Pacific, Inc. Dick lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and travels extensively to shows and teaching venues throughout the United States. Additionally, he provides private instruction in his studio which is located in Livermore, CA. You can reach him through his website, www.dick.friesen.com, for additional information regarding this book, the contents therein, the equipment and additional instruction.