Intermediate Wood Carving: Projects

This is an intermediate studio course on three-dimensional woodcarving and design. This course will build on wood carving skills from previous terms.

The course will go over the creation of a master design, learning how to use various hand tools, and how to successfully complete an artistic vision. The students will be familiarized with different carving tools and techniques that will allow them to design and carve a 2D or 3D project in high-quality wood such as yellow or red cedar, basswood, cherry, alder or birch.

The students will draft their designs in a sketchbook based on research of their chosen design elements.  Students may take inspiration from traditional Coast Salish designs, contemporary woodworking, and or personal interests. This design will be refined with the assistance of faculty in order to best reflect the student's intentions and the necessary techniques in order to successfully carve it. Once the design is created, the students will learn how to transfer the design to their chosen wood, turning the two-dimensional designs into wood carvings.

Students will learn how to best accomplish the forms they are trying to create with guidance from Ed NoiseCat. Students will learn how to use tools to create their work, including tools such as chisels, gouges, carving knives, and flexcut knives. Students will learn techniques such as chip carving, knife finishing, and detail carving. By the end of the 10 weeks, students will have created and completed a project in their chosen wood type. At the end of the term, students will participate in a critique to go over what was successful in their work and where there are areas to improve.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

4 - Intermediate Wood Carving