Woodcarvers - best workshops, classes, off-the-beaten track ok ...

February 28, 2016 12:07 PM

My sweet loves his time in the shop, but I think he would enjoy a woodcarving retreat or intensive master class or something along those lines to develop his skills. Or maybe a woodcarving experience that begins with chopping down a tree. I don't know. Woodcarvers -- what's out there and awesome. Thanks!
posted by essenescence to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total)

My wife and mother-in-law have enjoyed the John C. Campbell Folk School, including some wood carving: https://www.folkschool.org/
posted by JMOZ at 12:22 PM on February 28, 2016

Ha! Came in to say the John C. Campbell Folk School -- it's supposed to be fantastic! Everyone who's gone loves it.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 12:27 PM on February 28, 2016

Might be helpful if you could tell us roughly where in the world you are.
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:29 PM on February 28, 2016

The Wooden Boat School Or Guillemot Kayaks.
posted by cecic at 12:32 PM on February 28, 2016

Response by poster: Hi -- Thanks so much for the advice. I'll look into the Folk School. I'm in Massachusetts.
posted by essenescence at 1:14 PM on February 28, 2016

Snow Farm, outside Northampton, offers woodworking classes.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:19 PM on February 28, 2016

Calvo Woodcarving School looks perfect. It's in Massachusetts.

The Eliot School has a few classes
posted by lamp at 2:40 PM on February 28, 2016

Response by poster: I realized I absent-mindedly used the wrong term -- I meant wood turning, not carving, but most of the advice works for word turning too. Snow Farm looks great. Thanks to everyone for your thoughtfulness.
posted by essenescence at 4:34 PM on February 28, 2016

Assuming you're in the US, the four general studies craft schools (Penland, Arrowmont, Haystack Mountain, Peters Valley) have full-on summer programs in woodturning (among other things) with a range from workshops that are a couple of days, to a couple of weeks, and beginner to advanced. I've seen workshops at all four with some very highly regarded wood-turners.
posted by taltalim at 7:30 AM on February 29, 2016