Classes at Marc Adams School of Woodworking
Fundamentals of Carving with Mary May
Dates: 4/7 - 4/11
Tool List: Click here for tool list
In this class Mary will cover the basics of carving based on traditional European Techniques using a mallet and gouges to achieve a crisp beautiful design. Students will start by learning how to work through some of the typical grain issues. This will get you started in the best way to safely hold the gouges, how to clamp your wood to the bench, which tools to use, planning the cut and how to carve a simple relief carving. Mary will be demonstrating the process of razor sharpening carving gouges the old fashioned way by hand.
The first project will be a relief carving of a floral design. This project will take you through outlining the design with a v-chisel, lowering down the background, carving overlapping elements in the design, and carving the details in the floral design. The second project will be a more decorative relief carving of an acanthus leaf. Mary will cover the history, design, layout, and carving process of this popular historic design. Finally you will move on to a variety of challenging relief carvings where you will learn tricks and techniques of making the carvings appear deeper than they actually are as well as how to work with more overlapping elements. Mary will also do demonstrations on such topics as carving linen-fold, letters, basket weave, egg & dart molding, etc. This class is designed to be an introduction to basic carving skills and would be perfect for any furniture maker who wants to take his or her work to the next level.
- How to sharpen gouges
- How to properly hold gouges for safety and efficiency
- How to lower down background for relief carving
- How to work with wood grain issues
- How to carve a basic floral decoration
- How to carve a classic acanthus leaf decoration
- How to carve a classic scallop shell carving
- How to get the most out of your gouges
- Demonstrations on linen-fold design, grapes, and letter carving
There is a $45 annual registration fee that will be added to your the total amount of the class if this is the first class you are registering for this season.
Class Is Full