The following courses are currently scheduled.
Courses are listed alphabetically by title.

 
       
Acanthus Relief Carving
Keith Anderson
Session Options:
. . . 5/16/2008 - 5/18/2008
. . . 10/10/2008 - 10/12/2008
The Mediterranean acanthus plant first caught the eye of ancient Greek stone carvers and in the Baroque period it was further developed as part of carved ornamentation.  The style reached northern Europe in the 17th century and reached a high point in Scandinavia in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Today, it is a primary form of adornment in Scandinavian woodcarving.  In this course, you will be introduced to basic relief carving tools and techniques.  Practicing on a provided "blank," you'll learn the standard forms of the acanthus figure, then choose individual projects, including such household items as plate shelves, candleholders or bread servers.  Sessions on tool selection and sharpening, and on finishing techniques, are included. Tools are available for loan and/or purchase.

Following an introduction to Scandinavian relief carving based on the acanthus plant, students complete selected projects in the form of household objects, such as bread boards, plate shelves, candle holders, etc.  Tool sharpening and finishing techniques are covered. Tools for loan or purchase are available from the instructor.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($10 to $25)
. . . Intergenerational Age: 12+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition: $360/adult-child pair
. . . Level: Beginner to Intermediate

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Carving The Fisherman's Face
Bruce Futterer
Session Options:
. . . 7/18/2008
This one-day carving project celebrates the traditions of the fisherman.  The weathered lines on their faces, their strong, confident eyes and the warm glow of their spirit - perfect subject matter for the relief carver.  You carve a bearded fisherman face on a basswood blank shaped like an antique cedar fish net float/cork as used by Lake Superior commercial fishermen.  The carving will be finished to look like an authentic antique float and can be hung with rope to be displayed in many locations.  Carvers may finish two or three of these carvings in one day if they are so inclined.  Beginners welcome.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 1
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $75      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($5-$10)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Carving The Heirloom Rocking Horse
Phillip Odden/Else Bigton
Session Options:
. . . 12/12/2008 - 12/14/2008
Imagine the glow of sunlight on the heirloom rocking horse you made for your child when they were just little enough to enjoy the swinging and swaying of the handcrafted wooden toy. Master Norse wood carvers Phillip Odden and Else Bigton carved this project years back for their son's first birthday and it remains in their family home as a reminder of those first years. In this class you'll construct a rocking horse that is decorated and finished to fit your taste using carving tools, traditional paints and other creative techniques that Phillip and Else have discovered over the course of their career.  Bring a partner to share this special project with - a nephew, cousin, grandparent or husband - and share in this memorable carving project.

The instructor will provide all the pieces necessary to build a rocking horse. It will be assembled with screws and glue. The head, tail, legs, and rockers can be decorated in a variety of ways. The instructors will help students with the construction process and offer tips in decorating the rocking horse.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $335 per rocking horse      
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: n/a
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Celtic Relief Carving 
Keith Anderson
Session Options:
. . . 3/13/2009 - 3/15/2009
The British and Irish Isles have a rich folk art tradition of Celtic design in fabrics, painting, graphics and relief carvings.  The centerpiece of this relief carving  is the "woven" Celtic knot, which finds expression in a wide variety of subjects, including mythical dragons, plants and abstract designs.  In this course entry level carvers will be introduced to the techniques and methods of relief carving, including tool selection and sharpening.  For continuing carvers, the course content and subject matter offers a fresh look into the carving techniques and folk art of the Celtic tradition.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $195      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($10 to $25)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Fan Carving - Carving Spån Fågel (aka the Shaving Bird)
Del Stubbs
Session Options:
. . . 9/19/2008 - 9/21/2008
When skillfully carved, the shaving bird comes to life in all its intricacy, delicacy and beauty.  Fan bird carving is a rich tradition originally dating back to northern Russia. From there it spread to many countries in Europe, developing its own traditions in each culture. You'll start with a fresh northern white cedar log straight from the forest and learn how to make grain selection and precise splitting. Then you learn to carve the exquisite wing patterns and the sinuous body of the bird from one solid piece of white cedar.

Del first encountered this folk art form while spending a winter in Sweden in 1990, where it is called Shaving Bird or Spån Fågel (pronounced spone fogel). There were no courses in this rare craft so Del spent many years teaching himself and developing refined techniques of his own.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2.5
. . . Hours: Day 1: 5pm-9pm; Day 2-3 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $190      
. . . Materials Fee: $10
. . . Intergenerational Age: n/a
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Figure Carving - Scandinavian Style  
Bruce Futterer
Session Options:
. . . 7/19/2008 - 7/20/2008
Beginning and experienced carvers will enjoy this opportunity to focus on figures carved in the Scandinavian flat-plane style. Tool sharpening and the history of carving are presented at the start of the course and the instructor will lead you through an initial figure in step-by-step fashion. Then you can carve an additional piece with individual assistance from the instructor.  The figures are then finished with paint.  Natural oils or wax finishes will also be covered. For inspiration, the instructor will display the works of Scandinavian carvings from such woodworkers as Trygg, Gunnarrson, Larsen, Henning, Peason and more.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($5 per cutout)
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition: $208 per adult/child
. . . Level: All levels

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Nordic Drinking Vessels In Wood   
Phillip Odden/Else Bigton
Session Options:
. . . to be scheduled
Nordic cultures have created ornate wooden drinking vessels for centuries. Phillip and Else have been studying these designs for over 20 years. Under their tutelage, you will explore the process of designing, forming, and decorating a variety of drinking vessels. Drinking cups and ale bowls, large and small, will be the focus of the class as many have interesting heads in the form of chickens, dragons, ducks, or horses. You first sculpt the piece and then decorate it with acrylic paint, kolerosing and traditional carving patterns.  We will use a variety of wood working tools and the working time will be accented with mini lectures on aspects of technique, creativity, ornamentation styles, form and function, wood selection, tool sharpening, and finishes.

There will be a focus on  the creative process in making a drinking vessel of wood. The instructors will set the different forms in the context in which they were used.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($6-25)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Scandinavian Bowl Carving
Jon Strom
Session Options:
. . . 4/11/2008 - 4/13/2008
. . . 11/7/2008 - 11/9/2008
From log to bowl!  The graceful lines and smooth surfaces of a hand-crafted Scandinavian bowl are unmistakable.  In this course we'll discuss the selection of wood stock, design, hand hewing and finishing of traditional Scandinavian bowls. You will put those skills into practice as you make your own bowl which reflects a graceful Scandinavian style through the linear form and grain of a half log. During the shaping of your piece, you will learn to use appropriate tools and holding devices including the traditional bowl adze, ax and push knife. Techniques for drying and finishing will also be covered. As time allows, students may experiment with a second bowl style if desired.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $195      
. . . Materials Fee: $15
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner

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Scandinavian Style Flat-Plane Figure Carving
Harley Refsal
Session Options:
. . . 6/6/2008 - 6/8/2008
This course provides beginning carvers with the opportunity to carve several figures in the Scandinavian flat-plane style. Beginning with tool sharpening, the course provides hands-on carving experience as you complete a figure in step-by-step fashion.  You will then paint the figures and apply a final oil finish.  After this initial figure, you will carve additional pieces independently while the instructor offers assistance on an individual basis.  Sharpening equipment and finishing supplies are also covered.  Band-sawn wooden cutouts may be purchased directly from the instructor and he will also have a supply of basic carving tools for purchase for students who do not have their own.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies (see description)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Intermediate

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Scandinavian Style Flat-Plane Carving - Continuation
Harley Refsal
Session Options:
. . . 6/9/2008 - 6/11/2008
Students with prior carving experience, including seasoned carvers as well as new-to-carving folks who will have just completed the three-day Scandinavian Style Figure Carving course, can continue on in this three-day "let's keep on carving" course.   You should be able to complete a figure or two (or three) during this class.  If you've carved in the past and would like to get back in the groove under the tutelage of master carver Harley Refsal, or if you are continuing on from Scandinavian Style Figure Carving, this is the class for you!


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies (see description)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: All levels

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Scandinavian Style Spoon Carving
Fred Livesay
Session Options:
. . . 5/23/2008 - 5/24/2008  - FULL, call for waiting list
. . . 8/29/2008 - 8/30/2008
From log to spoon! Discover the craft of green woodworking.  Starting from a green log collected in the field by participants and instructor, students will use traditional hand tools to carve out a butter knife and then a spoon.  Learn to split and rough out a spoon blank in green wood with an axe and carve and detail the spoon with a knife and scorp using Swedish knife techniques.  Your spoon will be ready for use the next day at breakfast. Selecting, gathering, designing, sharpening, finishing and the history of Scandinavian green woodworking will be covered.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150      
. . . Materials Fee: $25
. . . Intergenerational Age: n/a
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Intermediate

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Scandinavian Style Spoon Carving - A Continuation
Fred Livesay
Session Options:
. . . 8/31/2008 - 9/01/2008
This class is meant to satisfy those of you who cannot get enough of spoon carving and those who asked for an advanced class.  While many of the same subjects will be covered, the instructor will delve more deeply into design, ergonomics and layout, woods, wood grain, the unusual, tricks of the trade, much more on sharpening, grips and techniques for obtaining superior results in your spoon finish, painting and decorating.  Students should bring special pieces of wood they wish to carve and their own tools and sharpening materials.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150      
. . . Materials Fee: $25
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Viking Dragon Relief Carving 
Keith Anderson
Session Options:
. . . 7/25/2008 - 7/27/2008
The "Dragon" or "Stave Church Style" of carving is perhaps Norway's greatest contribution to the carving world. Found primarily on the magnificent wooden churches built between 1050 and 1350, Dragon Style carving encompasses a number of stylistic variations. In this course you will complete a Dragon Style relief carving in Urnes Style, which is a reproduction of an actual panel found in the Urnes church. First, you are introduced to basic relief carving tools and techniques. Then with a provided practice blank you gain the basic skills needed for the class project. You will then choose a project from among several Urnes Style patterns. Sessions on tool selection and sharpening and finishing techniques are included. Tools are available for loan and/or purchase.

Following an introduction to Norwegian Dragon or Stave Church Style relief carving, students complete relief panels with patterns of their choice. The patterns are based on actual carvings found in 800-year-old Norwegian stave churches.  Tool sharpening and finishing techniques are covered. Tools for loan or purchase are available from the instructor.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($15 to $25)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced