I have a long, over-simplified answer (with formatting that may not survive), but at least I offer a lot of specifics. It appears that you don’t have a shop, a lot of tools, a vise, etc, and that you would like to learn and enjoy carving without needing a lot of space and tools. I will also assume that you don’t want to get significantly sidetracked learning how to sharpen, building accessories, etc. And you seem to have an interest in Newport carving, but not Santas, etc.
I think it is possible to have fun quickly, on your kitchen table, and without a shop full of tools. I suggest:
1) Set up your carving area for carving something flat (not something 3-dimensional).
- The kitchen table can work. It is probably 30” high, and a surface closer to 40” will be more comfortable for your back.
- Buy a roll of non-slip shelf liner at the dollar store. Cut strips about as long as your table, and lay them out to cover the table top.
- Place some sort of light on the right and the left side of your carving area. Lights that can be easily repositioned will work best.
- Find a sacrificial piece of paneling, plywood, etc about 12” x 12” to act as a backer board. It should always be bigger than your project by at least 2 inches all around
- Buy 2-sided carpet tape at your favorite home center.
- For steps 2 and 3 below, try to get wood that is fairly easy to carve. basswood, poplar, scraps of mahogany, and even aspen will work. Pine may well split, and you will blame yourself and get frustrated. Construction grade lumber will not work.
- You may need to use a coping saw (and maybe a bird’s-mouth on the end of your kitchen table) to cut out your project blank.
- Put a strip of carpet tape on the bad face of your project blank, then stick your project in the center of the backer board.
- To carve, plop the project and backer board on the non-skid surface. When you wish to approach your cut from a different angle, pick up the project, turn it as needed, and plop it back down. You don’t need clamps or a vise.
- In your kitchen, you won’t want to blow chips from your project. A dust buster is convenient. And keep a trash can beside your table so you can hold your project over it and brush off the chips.
- Put on music you find either soothing or energizing. I find carving is a lot more fun with Scott Joplin.
2) Start with something relevant, but simple.
- Buy the DVD “Carving Techniques and Projects” and practice carving a few shells as Mack Headley shows. It is important to actually see someone carving, and unlike a workshop, you can review the DVD every time you get stumped.
- Buy the necessary gouges. I suggest Swiss Made (from Woodcraft, and other sources). Many people prefer these, and everyone seems to agree that they are sharp enough to use right off the shelf (you won’t immediately become side-tracked with sharpening).
- Carve a few shells to get the feel of the tools, how grain changes, actions that cause wood to split, etc.
3) Practice making a Newport shell.
- Buy Nora Hall’s DVD ‘Carving the Newport Shell” and the model of it that she sells. There are many different Newport shell variations, and different techniques for carving them, but hers are good and you can learn a lot without spending a lot of money for a workshop. Nora uses a mallet. Many of us don’t. Start without one, and save $30.
- Buy any additional tools. Nora lists the ones you will need.
- Don’t try to make the first shell perfect. Relax and have fun. If you think you have ruined one feature, spend a little time trying to save it (often you can). Don’t give up too easily. If you are sure that you have ruined that feature, practice on the other features.
- When you think the first shell is done (or there is no more you can learn), start a second one, and try to apply the lessons you learned from the first one. You will probably find that you are getting better and faster.
4) Evaluate the experience.
- After your third shell, assess how much you enjoy carving. I enjoy it so much that I keep forgetting to make furniture.
- If you really enjoy it, then you can make a bigger commitment. More gouges, better wood, sharpening equipment, attending workshops ...
- If you are not hooked, you may want to spend your resources on basic shop equipment and focus on furniture.
- If you found the experience frustrating or worse, let this forum know, and someone will help.
Your kitchen can work quite well as a place to carve (I use my family room). Your kitchen is warm, close to coffee and food, and heated. It has humidity under 90 %, doesn’t smell of mold, and doesn’t force you to abandon your family for some out-building. A kitchen can be much better than a shop, as long as you aren’t kicking up sawdust.
From here you are on your own.