“Whistlestop” tour of Woodcarving:

Please find details below of the woodcarving course which should answer most of your questions but if I have missed out anything please contact me.

Appropriate Dress:

As you will be in a workshop please wear appropriate footwear (no strappy sandals or bare legs) and, generally, appropriate clothing (many layers are good). It can be very hot in the summer although the large beech tree under which the workshop sits provides a lot of shade but in the autumn/winter months it can be quite cold. You will be working at special carving benches which require that you stand or perch on a high stool all day so this must be taken into consideration.

Programme for Day One:

We will look at the different types of woodcarving tools I have in the workshop and their different uses are explained.

I will demonstrate the sharpening of chisels and gouges by hand using diamond bench stones and slip-stones and a leather strop is demonstrated. An electric grinding and honing machine (which only I may use) is in the workshop and the advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.

I will provide you with a simple leaf sampler to copy and a piece of lime on which to carve it.

And should you have decided to take the two day course…

Programme for second day in wood carving:

Continuation of the leaf carving and, it is more likely, that I will steer you towards this if you are spending two days with me.

The pace of the two day course will be generally slower giving more time for discussion and looking at books on the subject.

Checklist:

Please bring rulers and pencil cases.

Please bring your own lunch.

“Whistlestop” tour of Woodcarving:

Please find details below of the letter carving course which should answer most of your questions but if I have missed out anything, please, contact me.

Appropriate Dress:

As you will be in a workshop please wear appropriate footwear (no strappy sandals or bare legs) and appropriate clothing (many layers are good). It can be very hot in the summer although the large beech tree under which the workshop sits provides a lot of shade but in the autumn/winter months it can be quite cold. You will be working at special carving benches which require that you stand or perch on a high stool all day so this must be taken into consideration.

The day starts at 10 a.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. and this will include tea, coffee and a light lunch. I will provide all the tools and wood you will need for the course. But, if you prefer, and have some of your own, please feel free to bring your tools. And, most importantly please bring a word with you of either four or five letters if you are taking the one day course and, perhaps, a longer word if you are taking the two day course.

Programme for Day One:

We will look at the different types of letter carving tools I have in the workshop and their different uses will be explained.

I will demonstrate the sharpening of chisels and gouges by hand using diamond bench stones and slip-stones and a leather strop. An electric grinding and honing machine (which only I may use) is in the workshop and the advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.

In the morning you will concentrate on letter cutting exercises which will be based loosely on the Modern Roman Alphabet. This is similar to the italic style in that it consists of thick and thin strokes where the thick letter strokes are one-tenth the letter height.

In the afternoon you will draw and carve your word.

And should you decided to take the two day course…

Programme for second day in Letter Carving:

Finishing off the drawing of the letterforms and a greater study of this can be achieved on the longer course and then the carving of the word.

The pace of the two day course will be generally slower giving more time for discussion and looking at books on the subject

Checklist:

Please bring protractors, rulers, compasses and pencil cases.

Please bring your own lunch.