teaching beginning carving

[Thor]

This is a thread requested by Susan Irish of a couple of us to discuss our teaching experiences and best and worst case senarios. I don't consider myself in a "teachers league", but I do like to encourage others to enjoy a new hobby. I do not get paid to teach by the way....that may be important to mention.

I have only demonstrated and taught beginners who were a little intimidated by the tools, sharpening the tools, and taking the leap into what looks like a lot of fun. My goal is to make it look easy enough for them to take it on if they have wanted to.

My successful classes have consisted of no more that 6 people, and only last for a couple of hours at Medieval events or here in my own studio. That in itself is probably not like other teachers.
The time line of a class breaks down easily.
A. lecture: history, influences and inspiration, tools, materials, safety, shapening
B. a demonstration: including examples of finished carvings, walking them through each step ( I teach shallow relief carving)
C. Hands on tool use (my tools, and that limits the number of people automatically) to see how successfully the tools work on a Celtic knotwork design predrawn. They each get to play with a section of it.
D. Finishing with paint, oil, stain or gold leaf

Demonstrations are usually with a one on one intested party who asks questions, gets quick answers regarding problems they foresee and I usually go through a demo of the basic steps of shallow relief carving on a samll section of the piece I'm working on.

I always include a printed handout that includes tool selection, history, wood choices, resources and internet helpful links (including this message board), and recommended pattern resources.

I don't know if any of this helps, but I've been told that folks enjoy my classes and demonstations. I've been invited back.
Thor

[Irish]

Thor,

It was JUST a suggestion

I always have concentrated on the newby and wanttabe artist no matter what craft. There are so many great teachers out there that have specific advanced techniques that they can share with those that already have so knowledge and desire for carving. But I love seeing that moment when someone who has never done anything with their hands before suddenly realize that they Can Do It!

In my personal opinion - No teacher can ever go wrong if they focus on the basics.

Susan

[Ron D]

i think this is a good idea even for those that have been carving for a while.they might find an easier way to do a project than the way they were doing it.

[Goody]

One of the things that has probably taught me the most is teaching others myself. When a student makes a mistake they look to you to fix it. You have to think quick and keep thier confidence. I show the class a finished carving and they all usually think they will not be able to do it (exept for the guy that brings a tool roll that has more tools than my shop and I wind up carving more of his piece than he does). There is a transition point when the student begins to have confidence in themselves. When I am teaching Santa Carving its usually the point that the piece of wood becomes a Him instead of an IT. I Video taped myself Carving a santa and downloaded stills and put together the students notes. If they are going to be with me for a few hours they need to learn to carve They allready know how to write so I did thier notes for them.

I taught for a woodworking/carving store that used to be here in Md. I also Taught for the Ward Decoy Museum and the Harve De Grace Decoy Musem. I put a limit of 10 students and it started to get to the point that when I showed up there was 21 students in the class. That was the only class that someone needed to go get stitches I just couldn't watch that many hands. This was volunteer work and when I asked to cut it back to 10 they said they couldnt make enough $$$$.

I find the ladies easier to teach than the men. They will listen and not try to get ahead of the rest of the class plus they have more experience with the knife from working around the kitchen. Men will aggresively cut and dig with the point. The Ladies will slice nice smooth curls of wood. (sorry guys but got to tell it like it is) I do tell them not to carve Potatoes into Santas though. Speaking of the Ladies I find they do not have the strength in thier hands. When I get a load of wood over the shop I look for the really prime wood and set it aside for classes. Theres nothing worse than to try to get someone interested in carving with a bad or hard piece of wood.

I haven't taught for about two years but am looking forward to starting again. I did do a Dragon Bolo tie for a cub scout troop ( the dads had more fun than the scouts. I don't think I have taught a class yet that the phrase "I can't Belive I did this" didn't come up.

Thor covered the rest Really well! The safety lecture, explination of tools, sharpening, and handouts help the students gain the I can do it attitude.

Oh yeah you always hear "When we orderin the Pizzas"

Goody

[Ashbys]

When you set your first Class Goody it. So I can make it. And just so everyone knows ... he did have at least 2 more tools than I did.

Ash