Speedball
Speedy-Stamp |
This is
also called "the pink stuff." It comes in various
sizes, as large as 9 x 12, and is about .25 inch thick. It cuts
well. Most Michaels stores carry it. |
Speedball
Speedy-Cut |
This is
white and is about .5 inch thick. I bought this one time and
regretted it because it is extremely crumbly. I bought this at
Michaels (and I won't buy it again!). |
Nasco
Safety Kut |
This is
white and is about .25 inch thick. It comes in a wide variety of
sizes and is easily carved. This and the PZ KUT (see below) are
your best value. It is available online from Nasco
(make sure you request their Arts and Crafts catalogue for an
amazing assortment of stuff you really need!) |
STAMPEAZ
PZ KUT |
This
excellent white medium is available in only one size: 10 x 4.75
x .25 inches. April Pease of the Carving Consortium sells this
product via her Web
site. |
Mars-Staedtler
MasterCarve |
This is my
favorite carving medium, and if I had money to burn I would use
this exclusively. It is costly, but because it is so thick (.75
inch) it can be carved on all six sides of a block, making good
use of the whole piece. Also, because it is so thick, you don't
have to mount it if you don't want to. Many rubber stamp stores
carry this material. |
| Various
white vinyl erasers |
Most of
these erasers are about 2.5 x .75 x .5. They can be found
cheaply in art supply stores, discount stores, and drug stores.
They carve very nicely. This is a great place to start! |
Pink Pearl
erasers |
My very
first attempt at soft-block carving was using a Pink Pearl
eraser and an X-Acto knife. I was bored one day at work and
carved a small dog. The result was pretty primitive, but it
worked. I wouldn't suggest this material in general because it
is crumbly and hard to carve. |
ArtGum
erasers |
Some people
have recommended using this material to teach soft-block carving
to children (using a butter knife to carve), but I gave it a try
and was frustrated because it just fell apart. I don't recommend
it for children or adults. |
| Pencil
erasers |
I often
carve tiny images in my pencil erasers while at work and use
them as decorations for memos and notes. It just takes a moment!
Try carving a heart, a small bug, a smiley face, or your
initial. |
| Rubber
plumber's gasket |
When master
carver Ed Giecek said he uses rubber gasket material
exclusively, I just had to check it out! I buy it at Home Depot
for about a dollar a sheet (6 x 6 inches, about .12 inch thick).
I've also learned that it is available in automotive supply
stores. Yes, it is thin, but you do not need thick block to
carve. (Two of my most intricate carvings were created in gasket
material.) You do, however, need sharp tools. (I discuss how to
sharpen your blades in the section called Care
of Your Tools.) |
oft-
lock
arving 
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o