Introductory Spoon Carving with Dawson Moore
May 18-19
9:00-4:00 each day
Max students: 12
This class is oriented to beginner and intermediate carvers. We’ll make sure everyone gets comfortable with carving knife grips while also having time to explore basic axe technique for those who are interested. We’ll work through successive projects building skills at each stage. We’ll move from practice sticks to butter spreaders and finally to spoons. Time and skill level permitting, there may be opportunity for additional projects.
In this class we will:
Work with green wood fresh from a log
Focus on gaining proficiency with a Sloyd knife and hook knife
Learn how to read wood grain and understand its effects on how our tools engage with it
Discuss wood species suitable for spoon carving
Discuss spoon & utensil design
Watch and discuss how to sharpen a Sloyd knife & other tools
Discuss various finish options for completed utensils
Carve a butter spreader and eating spoon
Tool List: The instructor will be providing all needed tools for this class. They will be sharp and of professional quality. In addition, students are welcome to bring their own tools whether for personal use or just to learn more about them.
Provided by Instructor:
Sloyd Carving Knives
Hook Knives
Carving Axes
Sharpies/Pencils
Spoon Templates
Fresh Wood for Carving
Bio
Dawson Moore lives and works on a 6th generation family farm in Harbor Springs, MI. He has spent the last several years learning traditional methods of working with the local trees, from log to finished everyday household items like spoons, cups, stools and chairs. The work is driven by the joy of using simple hand tools that help maintain a close connection with the wood. The final objects are meant to show plainly both this process and the full potential of the material. Glassy smooth and textured surfaces straight from the tools, and unexpectedly light, flexible components chosen carefully to be the minimum necessary to fulfill their function.
Moore is inspired by Educational Sloyd, a craft teaching system developed in Sweden in the 1870’s, which emphasizes making projects grow in degree of difficulty over a period of time through the gradual introduction of complexity of shape, procedures and tools. Low instructor intervention is meant to encourage self sufficiency and develop ones own sense of quality work. Moore teaches sloyd based wood carving courses at a handful of regional Folk Schools. His work can be seen at: https://www.michigansloyd.com
