Learn the art of ornamental woodcarving in this four-day course with Master Carver Clunie Fretton. Suitable for beginners and more experienced carvers alike, the course will teach you how to recreate a medieval beast from historical designs. During the course you will choose a design from a selection of drawings and models and learn how to create your own carving in wood. Beginners will be guided through each step of the process, while more experienced carvers will be given tips on how to refine their skills under the eye of a master carver.

This course will focus on the traditional method of carving, working from a model and learning how to make precise and accurate cuts. However, for students who wish to work in a more explorative fashion, you will be given advice on how to work in a style which suits you. The aim of this course is to provide you with the experience and knowledge to confidently embark on projects in your own time, and provide a firm grounding of the core techniques behind the art of woodcarving.

By the end of this course you will have learned:

• How to take measurements from a model and transcribe them accurately onto timber
• How to handle sharp chisels safely
• How to fix work in place
• How to understand grain direction when carving
• The steps a carver takes to transform a block of timber into a finished carving
• The history of the ornamental tradition of the bestiary and other Medieval carvings

Included

On this course the tutor will supply additional chisels to supplement the student sets available. On this course the College will supply all of the materials including timber, relevant chisels, mallets, metal metric rulers, paper and sharpening equipment to use during the course.

What students need to bring

A notebook, pencil/pen, rubber and sharpener or a propelling pencil If you are a more experienced carver and wish to work on a more complex project, please contact the tutor to agree this beforehand, and bring printed references of the project you wish to work on with you on the day.

Available to buy

Available from shop:

• Paper, pencils, rubbers, rulers

Available from tutor:

• Additional timber blanks

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Students who wear open toed shoes such as sandals may not be allowed to take the course. Possible equipment restrictions in tutor absence.

Timetable
Evening - The first evening will cover an introduction to the tools and relevant health and safety, followed by a brief introduction to chip carving in order to introduce the basics of handling chisels and grain direction.
Day 1 – During the morning you will select the design you wish to work from, and begin transcribing the outline onto your timber. After the tea break, you will begin ‘roughing out’ the shapes, and be given guidance on how to transfer measurements from the model onto the timber.
Day 2 – Having roughed out the shapes, you will focus on refining the forms.
Day 3 – Detailed carving begins, moving to finer chisels and more delicate work.
Day 4 – You will add the finishing touches to the carving, ready to take home.

Terms & Conditions