North House Folk School - Courses, Classes, Workshops

Acanthus Relief Carving

Woodcarving

Keith Anderson

The Mediterranean acanthus plant first caught the eye of ancient Greek stone carvers and in the Baroque period it was further developed as part of carved ornamentation. The style reached northern Europe in the 17th century and reached a high point in Scandinavia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is a primary form of adornment in Scandinavian woodcarving. In this course, you will be introduced to basic relief carving tools and techniques. Practicing on a provided "blank," you'll learn the standard forms of the acanthus figure, then choose individual projects, including such household items as plate shelves, candleholders or bread servers. Sessions on tool selection and sharpening, and on finishing techniques, are included. Tools are available for loan and/or purchase.

Following an introduction to Scandinavian relief carving based on the acanthus plant, students complete selected projects in the form of household objects, such as bread boards, plate shelves, candle holders, etc. Tool sharpening and finishing techniques are covered. Tools for loan or purchase are available from the instructor.

Dates

No classes currently scheduled

Course Details

Length in days:

Hours:

9am-5pm

Tuition:

$225.00 per student (Regular rate)

Materials:

Varies ($10 to $25)

Levels:

Beginner to Intermediate

Age with adult:

12+ (Review age guidelines/policy)

Making it happen:

When should I enroll?
We can't hold classes without students! Decisions regarding course cancellations (as related to minimum enrollment) are made three weeks before the class starts--so if you've got a course in mind, plan ahead and sign up at least three weeks in advance! That way we'll know you're coming, courses are more likely to meet minimum enrollment numbers, and then they'll actually take place.
Also watch for the words "nearly full" next to course dates. When that notation appears it means there are only one or two spots left--so sign up soon!
Do you take last minute registrations?
Of course! Although it's important that courses meet minimum enrollment three weeks before their scheduled start dates, we know that life doesn't always allow for prior planning. As long as there are still spots left in a course we're happy to accept your registration last minute.
When will new course dates be posted?
New course dates are posted both in the spring and fall to coordinate with our course catalog release dates. All the new dates are opened for enrollment on the same day and at the same time, so that everyone gets a fair crack at a spot in the courses they're interested in. As that time rolls around we announce when the new dates will "go live" in our e-newsletter. (sign up here!)