Metro Carving Weekend 2011

metro logo (15K)

The location for this years Metro Carving Weekend will again be in Fridley at the Fridley VFW #363. The address is 1040 Osborne Road, Fridley MN 55432 and the cross street is Highway 65. The dates this year are November 19th and 20th, 2011.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS 2011

----------

A. Butternut Loon Dick Zawacki

Carvers will create a common loon in a swimming attitude. The butternut loon is about 1/4 size and will have glass eyes inserted. Wing and tail feathers will be woodburned or carved at the student's discretion.

We will cover loon position and attitude in the water, feather layout, creating a sense of motion in the carving and how to add realism to the loon using various finishing materials. In addition to carving the common loon, you will learn loon anatomy, how to use various information sources, and finishing techniques you can use with other carvings. The carving will be finished using Watco Danish Oil. Distinctive wing markings will be added during finishing.

Dick has been carving for over 20 years and teaching carving classes to beginners and advanced carvers for 10 years. I just enjoy seeing the beauty of the wood grain emerge and enhance a carving as you get down to the final form. His classes have ranged from stylized and realistic birds and animals to human faces and chip carving.

Cost of project is $20.00, including body blank, head blank, and glass eyes. Tools needed: SHARP knife; SHARP gouges--3/8" to 5/8" #3, 3/8" to 5/8"" #5, 1/8" to 3/8" #11veiner, and V-tool. Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate. Tool sharpening will not be covered in this class. Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate. Tool sharpening will not be covered in this class.

---

B. Croaking Toad Wes Spadgenske Andover, MN

Wes thought this would be more fun than a road kill frog. This critter is similar to those made popular by the Taiwanese as "croaking frogs" We will hollow out the inside, to make a sound chamber, and carve the outside to create a lovable toad which will "croak" for you. Don't let the part about hollowing out the inside frighten you. Wes has a little trick to make this task quite easy.

Wes has been carving about 60 years -- as a child he carved his own decoys for spear-fishing. He wishes he had some of those old decoys now. They would probably be worth millions to the collectors. He has taught "fan-bird" carving; beginner carving classes for several years; and small-size duck and eagle head classes during the past Metro Carving Weekends.

Skill level: Anyone who has completed a beginner class or equivalent. Cost for the blank will be $15.00.; Tools needed: SHARP knife, and palm tools. A scorp would be useful, but is not necessary.

----------

C. Deer Whitetail Buck Al Gerads Rice, MN

Learn to carve a leaping or walking 8 point buck whitetail deer from a special glue-up basswood blank. The antlers are a wireframe, to be covered and textured by you, then assembled on the body.

The package includes: the blank, antler-frame, cover materials, glass eyes and base. This project is surprisingly easy to do because of the special blank and E-Z antlers. Cost of the package is $26.00. Tools needed: anti-cut glove, sharp knife, small gouges, v-tools and wood burner. Skill level: Any interested carver.

Al is a member of the Central Minnesota Wood Carvers of St. Cloud, MN for over 20 years. Over the years Al has taken and taught a wide variety of workshops. He really enjoys the carving weekends.
“Come join the fun and bag your big buck!”

----------

D. Lamplighter Charicature Figure Don Fischer Cottonwood, MN

Don has a new class project this year which will be a Lamplighter

Charicature Figure that is 8 ½” tall beside an old fashioned gas street lamp. All the wood pieces will be provided along with the lamplighter rough out figure. The cost will be $30.00 for the materials. This project is for the experienced intermediate and advanced carvers. Tools needed will be your favorite bench knife and gouges.

Don has been carving for nearly 20 years and has been teaching for over 5 years. His favorite carvings are caricatures. Don says, “Wood carving should be fun as well as challenging. My goal is to help students create a carving they can be proud of when they are done.”

----------

E. Carving the Vintage Santa Claus Russell Scott St. Paul, MN

I have created a set of carved vintage Santa Claus inspired by antique Christmas postcards and old issues of Harper’s magazine from the 1860s to 1915. These vintage Santa Claus are carved in the round and would make an excellent addition to your collection of Santa Claus.

This year, Santa will be heavily bent over carrying a large sack with a lantern in the other hand. My motto is, "I carve family heirlooms that family members will be arguing over for generations".

I will have different patterns this year, but will have cut outs from last year will be available. Cut outs will be about 7 inches with a cost of $12. Bring knife and chisels of various sizes. However, I believe they can be carved with knife only if you do not have chisels.

Russell has been carving for 10 years and has been teaching beginning and intermediate wood carving for the past six years. Russ favors carving the human figure, mostly caricature but also some realistically. Wood carving is a natural extension of his love of the forest. Russ became interested in carving as the result of a community education class. From the start he was hooked on the magic of watching figures emerge and take on life from blocks of wood.

----------

F. Chip Carving Darwin Krueger Plymouth, MN

2 days of chip carving geometric designs on a practice board and a 8" plate. Each student will begin with a practice board where we will learn simple drawing, how wood grain affects carving, how to hold the knife, and steps in making geometric chips. Next each student will move to the plate, drawing the design and carving it. New this year: a student may choose to do some lettering layout and carving using their practice board and 8” plate.

Come to learn the basics of chip carving to gain enough knowledge so you can practice this enjoyable form of carving. Darwin has been carving for 20 plus years and teaching chip carving for about 15 years.

Tools needed: SHARP chip carving knife, 6” plastic ruler, Screw-adjustable compass, .5mm mechanical pencil with B lead, and your knife sharpening method. Skill level: all. Cost: $25.00 for practice board and plate, other projects may be available for additional cost.

All skill levels will be accepted, as I will work with each student at their level of experience and wishes.
If you do not have a chip carving knife, I can bring one for you, but I will have to know by October 1, 2011 so I can order them. (Make a note on your registration form.)

----------

G. Whimsical Fairy Houses in Bark Dennis (Denny) Schuster Bloomington, MN

Whimsical 'fairy' houses and villages are caricatures and can be enjoyably made out of cottonwood bark.. Since no two pieces of bark are the same, each project will be individually unique. There are no pattens for any piece of bark and the design will come from your own imagination. For example, bring a picture of your own home to serve as inspiration. For those of you who think that you're 'imagination challenged', Denny shows you how to carve your house using the evolutionary design approach that he uses.

Denny began carving about ten years ago and has since taken many more classes in a wide variety of carving styles. He has taken multiple bark classes from both Karen Henderson and Rick Jensen in order to develop a relatively unique style, i.e., his style uses no straight lines or flat planes in achieving a whimsical, artistic look.

All skill levels are welcome. Bark will be available for costs ranging from $4.00 to $20.00, depending on its size and configuration. No special tools are necessary, so bring whatever you have, including a sharp knife, A large sweeping gouge and large v-tool (palm or two-handed) is preferred for the rough-in stage. Make sure that your tools are sharp. There will be loaner tools available if you need them.

----------

H. Acanthus Carving Charles M. Jahn Lindstrom, MN

Acanthus designs are found in many cultures and countries throughout history. It is a flowing interpretation of leaf forms in a stylized manner that varies from one country to another. In Minnesota we most often see the Norwegian styles of Gudbransdal and Telemark. The Scandinavian designs are related to the regional rosemaling designs.

Charles has been carving for a total of 30 years, with the last 20 years doing primarily Acanthus. He has experimented with many styles of carving but loves Acanthus the most.

Charles has received a Vesterheim Gold Medal in Acanthus carving. Charles says, “Acanthus carving has a long history and gives the carver a feeling of connection with the past.”

This class is an introduction to Acanthus carving, using full-size gouges. A jewelry box is a possible class project (approximately 6” X 10” - 3” deep). Skill level: Beginner to Intermediate, no Acanthus experience required. Cost of blank is $10.00 and up. Tools needed: SHARP full-size gouges (two-handed size) – bring any that you have, and two clamps.

----------

I. Spirit Faces in Wood Chris Whillock Faribault, MN

Learn the basics of spirit carving while completing your own selected project. Learn blocking out, shaping and detailing a great looking spirit face. Special focus on eyes, features, expressions, hair and more.

Many helpful hints and techniques.... learn the skills to carve your own spirit faces in walking sticks and/or cottonwood bark (supplies may vary). Chris will have tools available for use or purchase.

Chris was born into the world of woodcarving. He and his family have operated a tool/supply business and woodcarving school for over 40 years. Chris has taught woodcarving throughout the US and is current editor of Carving Magazine and National Woodcarving Magazine based in New Jersey. He is co-owner of WoodcarversWarehouse.com carving supply business based in Owatonna, MN.

Cost of project supplies is $10.00 to $20.00. Tools needed: Glove, knife and basic palm tools.

Skill level: Any

----------

J. Elna and her Swedish Coffee Lee Olson Mounds View, MN

Elna is 6 in's tall and is in the style of the Scandinavian flat plain. She is sitting down on a bench with her favorite drink, coffee. You will be able to have her drinking out of the saucer or her cup. She has the standard dress for the early 1900's emigrant woman, simple, long dress but you may want to add an apron to her. The look in her eyes shows that she misses the “old country” which she left so many years ago. You can carve Elna drinking her coffee from the saucer like you may remember your parents or grandparents doing.
Painting will not be done but will be discussed.

Lee's been carving for 19 years and has been teaching at the Metro seminar since its start also, the Snow Daze Carve In and the Waldorf Weekend in Forest City, IA. This year Lee's been carving at the American Swedish Institute picking up new ideas and inspiration from Bill

Jager, this has gotten him back into the Scandinavian style of carving.

Blanks will be $15.00 for the project Tools needed: Sharp bench knife and assorted palm size tools. Lee will have tools to borrow. Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate.

----------

K. Swedish Dalmalning (Painting) Kathy Todd Lindstrom, MN

Swedish Dalmalning (painting) is an art form that was popular from c. 1750 to 1850. Usually the paintings depicted Bible stories, sometimes wedding scenes,some favorite hobby or anything that is important to that person. This painting will be approximately 18' by 20'. No painting experience is necessary. This will be a class where you design your own story and paint it or if you's like Kathy will have patterns available. We will be using Acrylicc paints. All paints, canvases and brushes will be supplied for a fee of $15.00.

Along with this class, if you are interested in learning to paint your wood carvings I will show you how to seal and paint your items. If you are joining the class only for painting wood carvings the fee will be $8.00.

Kathy has always been very artistic and learned a lot from her mom and dad who are very artistic. Kathy began painting in 1997 and has won several awards for her Swedish painting. She also has been wood carving very part time for several years. Kathy is interested in the folk art of many cultures and likes to learn not only the crafts but the history behind them. Some examples of crafts she enjoys the most are painting, carving, Ukrainian eggs, many types of needle work, basket making and soap making. Kathy has been teaching a variety of culturally based painting and craft classes for a number of years. Be ready to have a fun and creative time! Skill level: Beginner

----------

L. Relief Carving Alice Spadgenske Crystal, MN

Choice of class projects in the shallow relief style of carving will include patterns from past classes such as scenes of an old country store, a barn, pumpkin landscape, a garden gnome, country outhouse, rose, sunflowers and some new projects still being designed - done on an 8 1/2” X 11” X 1” board. Also possible projects include cut-out blanks of Santa, Cowboy Santa, Elf, Green man, or dragon's head. All projects will be in basswood.

Alice has been carving a variety of subjects in various styles for the past 20 years and had taught numerous classes to carvers that are just beginning or have years of carving experience. Alice's favorites include faces, caricatures, and designing new projects. Alice says, “There are no mistakes, only design changes.”

Cost of blanks is $5.00 to $20.00. Skill level: Depends on project, but there is something for advanced beginners to intermediate carvers. Tools needed: Bring whatever tools you have, including sharp knife, palm tools (gouges, skews and v-tools) and bench hook. (Some bench hooks will be available for purchase.)

----------

General Notes of Importance and Interest

We did NOT Move! This year we are at the Fridley VFW 363. 1040 Osborne Road, Fridley, Minnesota 55432. (About 2 ½ miles south of the Mary Ann Young Senior Center on Hwy. 65.)

Check in begins Saturday, November 19th at 8:30 am. Brief meeting at 9:00 am.

Classes start at 9:00 am., end at noon, resume at 1:00 pm. And continue until 5:00 pm. Saturday and 4:00 pm. Sunday.

No class changes may be made without approval of the seminar coordinator.

All classes are in the same room. Therefore, for the comfort of everyone, we have limited the classes that have wood burning or use power tools.

Class assignments will be made on a First Come, First Served basis. Earliest postmark on registration forms will be given first choice of classes. Return your registration as soon as possible to ensure getting your choice of class. If all of your choices of classes are filled, your check will be returned and you will be notified in the event of a cancellation.

Classes are limited to 8 students per class.
Notification of class assignments will be sent out in mid-October.

Cancellation – After September 15, 2011 there will be a $20.00 charge for anyone dropping out of the seminar. After October 15, 2011, there will be no refund. If you must cancel, please notify Alice Spadgenske at 763-531-8005 or alices@skypoint.com.

Courtesy – Be considerate of your instructor's time so he/she is able to spend equal time with each student. Horseplay and unsafe behavior will not be tolerated. Your experience and knowledge may be interesting to the class, but during class time please show respect to your instructor and classmates and let your instructor lead the class.

Lunches – Will again be provided and are included in the seminar fee.

Lighting-You may want to bring a lamp and extension cord for detailed carving. (Better that you bring it and don't need it, than wish you had brought it along.)

Smoking and Alcohol – Smoking is prohibited in the VFW. Alcohol is available in the Lounge. We ask that you refrain from indulging until the carving day is over at 5:00 pm.

Mailing list – If you are unable to attend this year's seminar but would like to remain on the mailing list for 2012 Metro Carving Weekend, please fill out the top part of the registration form, make a note on top and return the registration form.

Saturday Evening – This year we will be offering an optional social time/mini-classes. Friends or family of participants are welcome to attend. If you would like to offer a mini-class bring along your finished project and the blanks needed. Please let Alice know ahead of time what your project will be if possible.

------------