Introduction to Woodcarving

Learn how to plan and execute a competent woodcarving. Start with exercises designed to get you comfortable with woodcarving tools, then carve a project from an illustrated step-by-step guide, or carve something to your own design.

Suggested projects would include relief patterns, spoons or bowls, Celtic work, simple animals, caged balls and chain-links, simple lettering.

Carving sessions are broken by 2 daily tutorials, covering:

review of different types of woodcarving

preparing by drawing and clay modelling

choosing woodcarving tools

tool care and sharpening

holding work securely and safely

applying beautiful finishes

2012 course dates:

Mar 31—Apr 2 (Sat-Mon)

Apr 12-14 (Thu-Sat for Technology Teachers)

Apr 27—29 (Fri-Sun)

2 or 3-day follow-up sessions enable returning students to tackle more demanding projects.

Ben also undertakes his professional commissions in the studio, so you may catch interesting pieces in progress.

A founder member of the Hands-On network of art and craft teachers, Ben Russell is an experienced teacher of both woodcarving and his other passion, photography.

During thirty years of professional woodworking he has undertaken a wide variety of specialist woodworking, from house-framing to jewellery making, and has undertaken many private and public woodcarving commissions.

Ben has written over 100 articles on woodcarving and woodworking technique, and has given master classes at the International Woodworking Exhibition in London.

He lives on an organic small-holding, with his writer and gardener wife, Joyce.