Workshops

Photo Credit:

Mel Schockner

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2010 WORKSHOP Schedule

I have decided to limit my teaching to several classes per year here in beautiful Loveland, CO. with a reduced number of out state classes. I am going this route for several reasons:

	The students get a better deal by having my time spread out over 5 - 6 students versus 10 to 13 students.
	There is a greater selection of wood for students (and I don't have to charge the students for boxing and shipping it).
	The student's get to eat my wife's wonderful healthy cooking for lunch each day.
	If the student's are still standing at the end of the day, Loveland is a great place to visit. There is lots of shopping, the Sculpture Park, nearby Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park as well as plenty of other things to see and do (spouses have enjoyed the time in Colorado as well).
	I don't have to travel and spend 2 days in airports.

Upcoming 2010 Classes:

September 27-October 1

Loveland, CO

Class held in my studio and under the awnings outside. Weather can be in the high 80s or snow, probably both, dress appropriately.

October 18-22 FULL

Signal Mountain, TN (Chattanooga)

These classes are held at the beautiful rustic setting of the workshop of Farrel and Fern Eaves. This will be my fourth class held there, the family atmosphere and Farrel and Fern's incredible hospitality make this class a great experience for all. Delicious lunches, wood, plus Farrel's expertise on the band saw and other wood working machines, are included in the tuition price. Class is almost full of repeat students, contact early.

November 1-5

Williamsburg, VA

This class will be held in the new home and wood working facilities of Bill Casto. This beautiful place sits on a hill overlooking the historic York River. Lunch and wood will be included the tuition.

Contact Chris for more information and to enroll

Class Description

PRINCIPLES OF MOVEMENT IN DESIGN

This class is designed to challenge a person’s way of viewing woodcarving altogether. The emphasis is on sculpting wood into a series of lines, planes, and forms. Simple principles of movement are repeatedly applied and exercised as students turn a piece of found wood (primarily Mesquite or West Texas juniper) into polished fluid forms. Once learned, these principles become tools that can be applied in furniture making, woodturning, woodcarving, or classic sculpting.

Students will learn the use of the cabinet maker’s pattern rasp, designing a piece to shine, and how to finish wood to a glass like glowing finish. They will also learn how to bring out the full potential of a piece of wood by finding, simplifying, and refining the inherent lines, planes and forms found in the wood. Use of grain pattern is also touched upon.

Students may learn to remove wood and establish planes through the use of gouge and mallet or power carving with an Arbotech? disc and typhoon burrs on the end of a flex shaft power tool.
Wood is provided for the first project, students will sculpt an abstract sculpture that can stand alone or be used as a base for an additional representational sculpture of a bird, fish, or other subject. (Choice of subject must meet instructor’s approval.)

Students Will Learn:
1. The principles of movement, balance, and design.
2. Use of negative spaces in design.
3. How to bring a plane through a negative space.
4. Designing a piece to receive a glasslike finish.
5. Recognizing wood grain from the outside.
6. Harnessing grain to enhance detail.
7. The use of cabinet maker’s pattern rasp.
8. The use of gouge and mallet (hand carving)
9. Use of typhoon burrs on flex shaft (power carving)

* Wood for initial project included in the tuition fee. Additional wood available for purchase.