Wood carving always seemed a bit daunting. Easy to gasp at the lace bow carved by Grinling Gibbons. ( What mother calls her son ‘Grinling?) or marvel at the oak ‘ linen folds’ in many churches, but other than that, you just dont see it about in these days of minimalism and machine process.
A perusal of Ebay, arbiter of all things peculiar, reveals that manky old breadboards with wheat CARVED around the edge are being outbid and revered.
Our first evening of wood carving was filled with nervous novices and a LOT of strange looking chisels. However, Hugh Wedderburn started to enchant us with gorgeous lumps of REAL WOOD and encouraged us all to explore the wood with the gouges and what do you know, we started to get results and even the shavings are beautiful.
Since then, one student has been nipping back almost daily to have another go at his piece of pine. He loves the way his mind felt focused yet restful when he concentrates on chipping away.
The little doodle of a scroll has fired my imagination. After practicing on scrap pieces of wood, my ambitions are eyeing up round and square blanks available and thinking of carving an initial or number to hang on a door…and maybe one day….a breadboard.
Gather courage and join us for the next series of wood carving workshops. New dates just added for June 8th, 15th, 22nd and 25th. If you cant make all those dates- join us for one or two and get those whittling vibes.
