Worked on a flat piece of wood, relief carving involves sculpting three-dimensional designs that appear to stand out from the surface or are incised into the wood. An excellent entry style into the world of carving, it primarily requires chisels, gouges and knives to create depth and texture. Relief carving books for beginners provide basic instruction as well as starter patterns and projects. As your skills improve, books with more complex projects and designs are available. Topics include block printing, gunstock carving, horse portraits, soap carving, wildlife carving and many more.