Intro to Green Woodcarving

Get a taste of carving with fresh wood using traditional tools and techniques with carving instructor Maeve Gathje. This quick overview to “green” woodcarving will introduce basic tools, terminology, and concepts of working with wood recently cut from the tree, which is a foundational style for spoon carving and traditional Scandinavian homewares and furniture. With a carving knife in hand, participants will practice some basic knife grips and try carving a small butter spreader. This is a great opportunity for new carvers to try out a Scandinavian-style carving knife and find out if woodcarving is a good fit for them!

Woodcarving requires good hand strength and flexibility (such as being able to open a sealed jar). A $15 materials fee is due in class and covers all materials and tools. This class is suitable for ages 16+, or youth ages 11–15 registered alongside an accompanying adult student.

Are you unsure of which green woodcarving course to take? If you’re looking for basic tips for carving on your own, or want to test the waters before committing to a longer class, the Intro to Green Woodcarving (previously titled Green Woodcarving 101) is perfect for you. For a more in-depth introduction, consider the Green Woodcarving Foundations class which is offered quarterly. This course is a great option for new carvers looking to gain a deeper understanding of the craft. We recommend taking Green Woodcarving Foundations as a prerequisite to our spoon carving courses or any other courses that require previous green woodcarving experience. If you’re interested in trying out carving with dry wood, we suggest starting with one of the Carve a Heart or Carve Veggie classes.