Larry Matney
Jim R. Taylor and his wife Erma have lived in PebbleCreek since 2002. Jim started wood carving in 1985 and has focused mostly on birds and other animals. He has taught many woodcarvers since arriving in PebbleCreek. At the start of 2018 he decided to try something new so he picked up a book on chip carving. The book had some patterns and that was Jim’s start at a different type of carving as shown in the photograph. He has moved to carving from his own patterns and will teach a class on chip carving during the 2018/2019 carving season.
Chip carving is new to most club members and usually consists of geometric or flowing patterns carved into wood using two types of knives. Most of the carving is done with a cutting knife that removes small faceted chips to form the pattern. Very fine details are added by stabbing into the wood with a small knife that leaves a mark but does not remove any material. The results are quite beautiful.
The club is very active this summer so if you want to learn how to carve it is a great time to start. Formal classes will begin in October, but if you would like to start carving during the summer contact Joel Hawkins via email at [email protected] or stop by the Quail Room and there will usually be someone there to get you started. During the summer there are normally carvers in the Quail Room Monday through Friday in the mornings except on Thursday when another club uses the room.
The club has general meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. from October to April. If you are interested in woodcarving stop by to see completed work and meet club members. Most members have had little or no experience carving prior to taking one of the club’s classes. Carving equipment is available for use during your first two classes to see if you like carving.
Here is a list of planned classes for the 2018/2019 carving season: Chip Carving, Corn Dancer Kachina, Cottonwood Bark, Flower Bloom (Base for mounting Hummingbird), Giraffe, Hummingbird, Native American Kachina, Northwest Ceremonial Bowl, Parakeet, Pine Knot Carving, Rainbow Trout, Soap Stone Carving, Tool Sharpening, Western Tanager, Wolf Kachina, Wood Lathe Basics (Writing Pen) and Woodcarving Basics.