Relief Carving

Chris Pye

Acanthus leaves by Chris Pye, relief carving.Acanthus leaves by Chris Pye, relief carving.Detail of limewood bedstead by Chris PyeDetail of limewood bedstead by Chris PyeCeci N'est Pas Une Chemise by Chris Pye, limewood, bone and wire, 2007Ceci N'est Pas Une Chemise by Chris Pye, limewood, bone and wire, 2007

September 24-28

Chris developed this course over years of teaching beginners in his Herefordshire studio and then turned it into a book: Relief Carving: A Practical Introduction (GMC Publications, 1998), which serves as the course text. During the week, Chris leads students step-by-step through two projects designed to give them a thorough grounding in low-relief and high-relief carving.

The course offers a strong foundation in carving skills applicable to decorative panels, architectural details, furniture, and carving in the round. Students develop a confident understanding of the functions of the various carving tools and how to sharpen and handle them; relief design and working wood grain; lining in, grounding out, setting in, modeling, and undercutting; finishing from the chisel; and many other aspects of the carving process.

From his studio in Herefordshire, England, Chris Pye works on a broad spectrum of commissions, including lettering, heraldry, furniture ornamentation, architectural carving, and sculpture. A Member of the Master Carvers Association, clients include HRH the Prince of Wales. Chris has some 35 years of experience as a carver, and is the author of seven books. Among the six from GMC Publications Ltd. are Woodcarving Tools, Materials, and Equipment, Volumes 1 & 2 (1995, 2002), Lettercarving in Wood (1997), Relief Carving: a Practical Introduction (1998), and Woodcarving Projects and Techniques (2007). Fox Chapel Publications put out Chris Pye's Woodcarving Course & Reference Manual in 2010. In 2011, Chris launched a video-rich instructional website: www.chrispye-woodcarving.com.

Open to all.

Tuition: $695

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The mission of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship is to provide the best possible education for people who want to design and build functional, beautiful, and expressive work out of wood to the highest standard of craftsmanship. At the heart of the Center's mission is the belief that design and craftsmanship are deeply meaningful expressions of the human spirit. They contribute to individual fulfillment and, by extension, to the advancement of society.

 

Our programs are for novice, intermediate, and advanced woodworkers who seek an inspiring learning experience in a supportive environment.