WOODCARVING CLASSES FOR ADULTS

WOODCARVING LEVEL 1

Purpose: To turn people on to the life hobby of woodcarving.

• Done by introducing them first to whittling, then later to other forms of carving through demonstration, instruction, and hands on practice. Help and instruction is provided in safety, tool selection, materials procurement, and sharpening.

Components:

• Basic knife handling and safety.
• Basic knife strokes, practicing on scrap wood.
• Use of the basic strokes in making simple projects.
• Advice, demonstration and help provided on a group and individual basis.
• Projects include:
  • Simple Santa Ornament
  • Walking stick with a simple human face

Other features of the course:

• Tools and materials needed for the course are provided at no extra charge.
• Extra materials may be purchased.
• Magazines, books, catalogues will be displayed.
• Knives, sharpening supplies, etc. will be available for sale.

Time: 8 hours

Instructor's Fee:

• $65.00 per student plus GST

Class Size:

• Minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 15.
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WOODCARVING LEVEL 2  

Purpose: To build upon the foundation laid in level 1 by introducing some more advanced whittling projects and more specialized forms of carving using more than just the knife.
There is a continuing emphasis upon safety and on the "hands on" and "learn by doing (with help)" approach.

Components:

• More complicated whittling projects are offered such as:
  • Wooden chain
  • Ball-in-cage
  • Fan tailed peacock or hummingbird
  • Traditional Father Christmas
  • "Santa" Christmas tree ornament
• Projects requiring other tools and techniques:
  • Walking stick with a carved face
  • Spoons and ladles
  • Caricature head bottle stopper
  • Full head and body caricature
• Demonstration of the "Razor Sharp" power sharpening system.

Other features of the course:

• Tools needed for the course are provided.
• Some materials in this course will be provided at extra charge e.g.  extra spoon, peacock, and Father Christmas blanks.
• Most materials will be provided at no extra cost.

Time: 8 hours

Instructor's Fees:

• $65.00 per student plus GST

Class Size:

• Minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 15.  
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Purpose: To assist developing carvers in choosing and executing projects that will expand their abilities.

Format:

• Hands on work at your own project with help available.
• While some suggestions concerning projects will be made, this is very much a student directed course where the choice of carvings is concerned. Everyone in the class could be working on a different project with the instructor available as a helper and resource person.
• Wood will be available for sale and can be provided in "blanks" for most projects. The instructor will band saw wood for students unless a bandsaw is available in the instruction room, in which case instruction on the safe and efficient use of the band saw will be provided.
• Assistance will be provided in lamination when this is required.
• Projects that were not tried in previous levels may be attempted or re- attempted.
• Possible projects:
  • Chip carved jewelry box
  • Sculpted Duck Box
  • Larger footstool/bench/coffee table with more elaborate relief work or chip carving
  • More elaborate spoons, ladles, bowls
  • "Wood Spirit" (face in a log)
  • Human caricature
  • Duck or Loon
  • Student's choice 

Other features of the course:

• Some tools will be provided for loan, but at this level students should be getting and using their own tools.
• Tools will be offered for sale or ordering.

Time: 8 hours

Instructor's Fee:

• $75.00 per student plus GST
• Materials are extra for this course.

Class Size:

• Minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 10.  
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This course is for people who have done some carving (hopefully at least levels 1 & 2).

Format:

• Students will carve the caricature of their choice with the assistance of the instructor.

Features of the course:

• The instructor will demonstrate and assist students in carving a caricature .
• Some communication previous to the course beginning will be necessary in order that the appropriate blanks can be prepared.
• The figure will be carved using both knives and gouges. Some use of power tools (Foredom) may be involved as well.

Projects:

• Projects will be chosen from several books by different authors.
• Students may have one in mind that they wish assistance on.

Time: 10 hours

Instructor's Fee:

• $85.00 per student plus GST
• Blanks will cost $25.00 (Students may bring their own if they prefer).

Class Size:

• Minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 10.
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TREEN CARVING COURSE

Treen carving is making spoons cups and other household utensils from green wood.

This is a great course for a camp setting.

In this course students will carve a spoon or a cup out of a band sawn birch blank using a knife, gouge and bent knife.

Correct design for strength, utility and style will be emphasized.

There will be instruction and demonstration given on using a handsaw and axe to produce blanks when no band saw is available.

Instruction on obtaining wood and rendering it useful for carving will be given.

Blanks for the projects done in class are provided, extra blanks are available for sale.

Tools for use during the course are provided, and tools will be available for purchase.

Time:8 hours

Instructor's Fee:

• $75.00 per student plus GST

Class Size:

• Minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 10.