Intro to Carving 1/2 Day

“Beginner Woodcarving Class”

Learn the basics of carving 1/2-day class $3 material fee.  Bring whatever tools you have, Loaner tools will also be available

1.) Safe tool usage

2.) Tool usage for power and precision

3.) Sample different woods

4.) Carve a project to understand how wood grain affects your carving

Project will be the student’s choice of a Snowman (ornament sized) or a stylized comfort bird.  There will be several snowman options from the same blank.

Progressive steps in carving the snowman shown here.

Other options for snowmen from the same blank.

If students choose a Stylized Comfort Bird, it could look like something like this.

Taught by Jim O’Dea, Master Carver

Jim started carving in 1975 while in the US Navy serving on submarines and looking for a way to pass the time at sea. He has extensive experience carving human caricatures, carousel horses, realistic freshwater fish and birds, whales, and has done, to some extent most every style of carving. He has taught woodcarving for 30+ years, including classes at the New England Carousel Museum ; the “Woodcarvers Retreat in New England” in Rhode Island; The Northeast Woodcarvers Roundup in Honesdale, PA; The Woodcarvers Roundup in Evart, MI; The Indiana Woodcarvers Summer Camp in Bremen, IN; The Florida Woodcarvers Roundup in Chiefland, Zephyrhills, Clearwater, Arcadia and North Port FL; The NHK Woodcarvers roundup in Cope town Ontario and for various clubs such as The Mystic Carvers Club in Mystic, CT; the Rainbow Woodcarvers Club in Niagara Falls, NY; the Southtowns Woodcarvers Club in Elma, NY; the Peace River Carvers Club in Arcadia, FL; and the Myakka River Carvers Club in El Jobean, FL, The North Port Woodcarvers club in North Port, FL. Jim has served as a  woodcarving judge at County and State Fairs