Woodcarver of the Month: Richard Schlotzhauer

Larry Matney

Richard Schlotzhauer is the PebbleCreek Woodcarvers Club woodcarver of the month for December, 2019. Richard and his wife moved to PebbleCreek in 2004 and joined the carving club in 2017. He had previous woodworking experience, but had never tried carving until a friend introduced him to carving and to the club. His first carving was his thumb. Richard’s mentor told him that he always had his thumb with him so he always had a subject to carve.

Richard prefers using rotary tools and has completed many types of carving. His favorite subject is a Native American style flute. His shelf holds two flutes. One is a normal flute and the longer one is a walking stick flute. He likes to decorate a flute with wood burning, paint, leather, and feathers. His flute totems (over the part of the flute that makes noise) are elaborate works of art. Richard has made about 20 flutes and taught several classes on making flutes.

Richard has found the woodcarving club members are great at teaching beginner woodcarvers how to develop a talent that they did not know they had. By taking the beginner’s class and doing simple projects it is easy to develop and improve carving skills, no matter what their initial capability.

Prospective club members may sign up for the Beginner’s Class by Oct. 1 or Jan. 1 each year. Interested individuals must sign up for the class in the Quail Room of the Creative Arts Center, and pay in advance. The cost is $25. The class size is limited to eight individuals and is held around the 15th of October or January respectively. The one-day class focuses on tool safety and how to carve a simple project. Class attendees will then have the option to join the club if there is continued interest. However, club membership is open only to PebbleCreek residents. Please stop in the Quail Room or contact Tom Wick if interested in attending a Beginner’s Class. Tom can be reached at 262-408-7355 or via email at [email protected].

Regular carving classes are held from October through April. Club meetings are held on the second Tuesday each month from October through April. The carving room is available for club members daily throughout the year, except for Thursday mornings when another club uses the room.