Wood Carving Schools
Wood carving is a skill that you can learn through trial and error, reading books and watching tapes. However, you can gain much by first learning the basics hands-on from one or more carving instructors. Wood carving schools cover many different types and styles of carving. Some schools concentrate on classical carving, while others bring in various instructors to teach subjects such as caricatures, animals or realistic figures.
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Calvo Woodcarving and Woodworking School
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David Calvo is the instructor at the Calvo Woodcarving and Woodworking School in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He brings 30 years of professional carving experience to the classroom. Carving classes, seminars and workshops are available for the beginner and intermediate student. Classes are of a European style and are mostly done in relief. You can apply the techniques learned to all other types of carving. Classes are generally five days long and are held Wednesday through Sunday.
The School of Classical Woodcarving
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Classes at the School of Classical Woodcarving in San Rafael, California, are taught by British master carver Ian Agrell. Here you'll learn classical carving, such as acanthus and moldings that can decorate furniture or other woodwork. Two-day weekend classes are for beginners, and five-day weekday classes focus on the skills needed for professional wood carving. There is also a seven-day class which allows more time for you to work at your own pace. A 50 percent deposit is required to reserve a spot in a class.
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Smoky Mountain School of Woodcarving
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The Smoky Mountain School of Woodcarving is in Townsend, Tennessee. A variety of instructors from across the United States teach classes there in realistic figures, cane tops, caricatures, Native American busts, animals, spoons and other subjects. You will carve the pieces either by hand or with power tools. There may be an extra charge for the wood used in the class. Classes range in length from two to five days. A $25 deposit is required when registering.
Austrian Woodcarving School
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Week-long beginner to advanced carving classes are available at the Austrian Woodcarving School in Tyrol, Austria. Master carvers teach a wide variety of subjects, including masks, animals, caricatures, relief, portraits, nudes and chip carving. Chainsaw carving and intarsia classes are also available. The classes are bilingual with several special weeks set aside for English speaking students. Combine carving with a tour and other activities during the two- and three-week programs held in September. On-site meals and lodging are available. A deposit of 300 Euros is required when registering for a class.
Seminars
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In addition to wood carving schools, many carving clubs and groups hold weekend or week-long carving seminars. The smaller weekend get-togethers are usually affordable because instructors donate their time. Lodging and meals may be included. Some of the larger, more expensive seminars include the Woodcarving Rendezvous in Branson, Missouri, the Western & Wildlife Art Workshop in Crete, Nebraska, the International Woodcarvers Congress in Maquoketa, Iowa, and the CCA (Caricature Carvers of America) Seminars in Converse, Indiana. These seminars are a way to learn from well-known carvers with many years of experience.
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Resources
- Calvo Woodcarving and Woodworking School: Contact Info
- The School of Classical Woodcarving: Student Casts
- Smoky Mountain School of Woodcarving
- Austrian Woodcarving School: Contact
- Woodcarving Rendezvous: Main Page
- Western and Wildlife Art Workshop; 309 Woodbridge Road; Coventry, CT 06238; 860-742-3253
- International Woodcarvers Congress: Contact Information
- CCA Carvers: Seminar Contact Information
- Photo Credit carved in wood image by easaab from Fotolia.com
