17 - 20 March 2005
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The first annual Suwanee River Woodcarvers Roundup in Florida was held Thursday, March 17 through Sunday, March 20, 2005.
We registered 85 carvers and the weekend drew quite a few local tourists asking questions and we signed 12 people to form a local Suwannee River Woodcarvers Club. Many folks who had called in that they were coming didn't come due to rain and cooler weather. Those that braved it weren't complaining however and Saturday and Sunday were very very nice warm sunny days. We had deer strolling through and eating from the carvers hands, squirrels at their feet, manatees in the pond, scuba divers passing by on way to the springs, red cardinals and turkey vultures waiting for dropped food. The environment for woodcarving was great. Sandie Roosa organized a pot luck dinner, Indian blanket trade and a hot dog roast. It was great seeing people so engrossed in carving and making new friends. The local chamber of commerce helped with several discount certificates and the State park system has a lot of interest in this event. So now we're planning next year which will be bigger and better.
On Saturday morning and again in the afternoon non-carving class were offered by Diane Stewart (from MI) making a "gift bag" using wallpaper samples. Diane had all supplies and class material cost about $1. This was held at her campsite.
Thursday we had a get acquainted Pot Luck and Impromptu music session after with Tony erickson, Ol' Don, Jhon Dunkle and Peter Benson doing most of the picking and signing. Friday there was a spit and whittle group, very informal, Saturday night was a "Trade Blanket". Sunday after tear down and cleanup we had hot dogs and a campfire.
Instructors included:
"Ol' Don" - an award winning carver/pattern designer and consistent feature contributor to "Carving Magazine", "Chip Chats" and "Woodcarvers On-line Magazine". Caricature toothpick holders and bottle stoppers are the project and he will
have predrilled blocks with a pattern portfolio available for purchase ($20
for both) by the participants as well as go-bys for class
participants to use. Don will be teaching every day of the roundup.
As a young man, Don was awarded numerous scholastic awards and a
scholarship to study art at the University of Rochester, NY. Although he
withdrew to the industrial world, he continued to spend time at both his
painting easel and carving bench. Don moved to Tennessee in 1971 and kept
his artist talents in the forefront by active membership in many art
organizations and festivals. Don's paintings and carvings can be found in
collections across North America. He retired in 1999 and devotes all of his
time to his art interests - painting, drawing, carving and most recently,
traveling and teaching at wood carving events. Don is a regular columnist
for The Carving Magazine, Chip Chats, and the WOM (Woodcarvers On-line
Magazine). Ol' Don is pretty handy with a guitar too and enjoys relaxing
with his Mullens pedal steel guitar, Martin flat-top or Fender Telecaster.
Ol' Don's website and for carving help visit
Don's Picture Trail
Tony Erickson- Tony will teach a a Whimsical House in cottonwood bark. Tony hails from New Hampshire and Chiefland,FL
A description and pictures of the class project can be seen by clicking on the Whimsical House to read all about it. Materials range from $15-$25.
You can contact Tony at ajeca@aol.com and see his other carvings at
Tony's website Check the schedule when you get there to see which days this class will be offered.
Jim O'Dea - "Human Face Carving, creating your own study sticks" - offerred on Friday and Sunday. This 8hr class is an introduction to face carving for the beginning woodcarver with little or no experience doing human faces. Students will have the opportunity to follow a methodology in developing a human face using just a knife. The emphasis of the class will be on the “process”, not the artistic nature of the carving. Students will go home with own Human face study sticks. All material $16.00 A detailed description of the class can be seen by clicking on the Human Face Study Stick class to read all about it. Contact Jim at jeodea@aol.com with questions. Check the schedule when you get there to see which days this class will be offered.
Patrick O'Dea - beginner power carving, Friday and Saturday mornings 9-11:30. Contact Pat at PODEA2220@aol.com to discuss class and your interest in power carving.
Peter Benson- Chairman of the British Woodcarvers Association (BWA)and columist for NWCA Chip/Chats magizine isd here and will be at the Roundup. Peter has been the Chairman of the BWA for many years, was the foundation judge for their award scheme, is now an international judge including shows in the USA, as well as having demonstrated, judged and conducted master classes at major London woodworking shows.
Since retiring in 1997 from teaching, he has become busier than ever and now runs his own carving school. He has been Artist-in-Residence with the WA Guild of Woodcarvers and is leading a number of masterclasses and workshops. Most of his time is now taken up with teaching and travelling to conduct workshops. Time left is used to complete personal commissions, town and village signs and restoration work. Peter has worked in both relief and in the round - from a large polar bear to a tiny netsuke carving. He says the secret to good carving is observation... observation and sharp tools!
Peter will be teaching a Polar Bear "in the round", about six inch tall, hand tools only,Class will run every day, you can start on any day, takes 2 days to finish, cost of blank $20.
Floyd Rhadigan - Caricature Carver with 34 years experience woodcarving and has been teaching since 1976. He now lives and works full time as a woodcarver in Saline, MI. Floyd offeres numerous blanks from which the student can pick and Floyd will provide quidance. Pictures representative of his class projects can be seen by clicking on the Caricature Carving Class to read all about it.
Floyd has won numerous awards including the CCA Special Award in Dayton Ohio and recently a first place ribbon at the 2004 National CCA Competition. He teaches woodcarving classes all around the country including Michigan Woodcarving Seminars, Oscoda, MI May 12-17; Creative Woodcarving Seminar, Cadillac, MI June 19-24; Woodcarvers Roundup, Evart, MI June 14-17; NorthEast Woodcarvers Roundup, Honesdale, PA July. Floyd is looking forward to carving with new and old friends at the first Florida Roundup. Floyd will be teaching every day of the roundup.
Chris Howard * Realistic face. Chris for the last 5 years has been a professional realistic sculptor, from Gatlinburg, TN. He has worked in Europe and currently teaches at several of the Woodcarvers Roundups . All levels of carvers are welcome, intermediate and above may enjoy it more. Power tools and hand tools both can be used and a set of micro chisels will be helpful. Basswood rough outs, pictures and an out line will be availiable at a cost of $25-$50. Rough outs include but not limited to a girl, mountian man and several Native Americans. Chris will be giving half day classes every morning and afternoon, some carvers may want to take two 1/2 day classes and are more than welcome to do so. Chris's website
Sally & David Nye * Fan Birds,
a detailed description of the class can be seen by clicking on the Fan Birds class to read all about it.
Sally & David's website Salley and David will be teaching every day of the roundup.
Ron Johansen - Songbird Carving for Beginners, an overview of Ron's "system" of bird carving- this is a half day class covering all the techniques needed for carving any songbird from conception to completion. This system uses basic artistic principles and simple geometric shapes that guide you in the designing and carving of most songbirds. Ron will be giving you an overview of his system, demonstrating the basic principles and techniques." His books and DVD's will be available for sale and a blank is included with the purchase of a set. The price is $15 for the book and $25 for the set of 4 DVD's which have 5 lessons on them and follow along with the book, get a bargain by buying a complete set for $35. See Ron's web site Ron's web site This class will be offered only Saturday Morning and again on Saturday afternoon. There is no charge for listening to the overview.
Chris Lubkemann – columnist for Chip/Chats magazine and author of the book “Whittling Twigs and Branches”. Join branch-carver Chris Lubkemann from Lancaster PA as he demonstrates how to carve and paint a branch rooster from a Y-shaped branch. Chris will be teaching only on Saturday and Sunday.
Lowell Gorrell- the "Spoon Man" from Leesburg, FL will help you carve a spoon from his vast array of spoon blanks. Blanks costs $6-$8. A sharp knife, perhaps a small (1/2 in.)gouge and some sandpaper are all that is required. This class will be offered on Saturday and/or Sunday. Check the schedule when you get there.
Barbara Mann - from Titusville, FL. will be teaching a cypress knee class and a gnomes class. Barbara has been carving for over 33 years, in addition to teaching in the Titusville area she and has taught in western North Carolina for 11 years, taught at weekend workshop at John C. Campbell Folk School, and has taught at the Southeastern Woodcarving School in Montgomery, AL. Her classes will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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