Intro to Kolrosing

At its simplest, kolrosing is the art of cutting a very thin incision into a wooden surface, filling it with pigmented powder like coffee or cinnamon to reveal the pattern, and burnishing the cut closed to create a smooth and durable decoration. It is a wonderful way to decorate woodenware such as spoons, spreaders, and plates because it doesn’t catch food, but can also be used on any flat wooden surface. Join Liesl Chatman, featured in this summer’s exhibition Leaving Your Mark: Stories in Wood to learn more about this very old but accessible craft. Students will have a chance to practice making their own marks with a kolrosing knife and get a feel for the many possibilities kolrosing offers for anyone interested in woodworking, drawing, and traditional Scandinavian crafts.

A $15 materials fee covers the use of tools and materials in class; students will also have the opportunity to purchase a kit should they wish to explore kolrosing on their own. Students are invited to come early to view Liesl’s exhibited pieces as a part of ASI’s exhibition Leaving Your Mark: Stories in Wood. Suitable for ages 16+.