Intro to Wood Relief Carving (Monday Evenings)

In this class we will learn how to carve an image of your choice into a flat wood surface. This will be a high-relief carving reaching a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch to bring your two-dimensional design into a three-dimensional world.

By directly transferring your drawing onto a wooden panel we can begin the carving process. We will learn how to correctly use carving tools and chisels with a mallet to chip, shape and smooth out our chosen design. In addition, we will also learn how to sharpen and maintain our tools for clean and easy cuts. When the work is completed we will apply an oil-based finish for protection.

Expect to come away with a better understanding of a variety of carving techniques and a better sense of three-dimensional space and the shaping of forms.

The first class will be a meet and greet with an hands-on intro into carving by practicing with some scrap wood to get a feel for what is possible on a larger scale. To be mindful of the time it will take to complete your work your source drawing should be no larger than 11 x 11 inches. If possible, bring a few images to the first class so we can discuss what would be best to use.

Before class we encourage you to spend some time researching what other artists have done to get a sense of what is possible. The Cincinnati Art Museum has great examples of high-relief sculptures in wood if you need some inspiration.

The cost of the class is $355 (all materials included).

Monday evenings, (NO CLASS ON MARCH 3rd) January 6 - March 3, 2025.

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