By: Kevin Jones
This month we feature the Albemarle Carvers Club. Before we get into the details, let me tell you a bit about woodcarving. This is one of the most relaxing, rewarding, and enriching things you can do. It’s also very easy to learn and takes no special skill. Woodcarving is one of the lowest-cost hobbies you can have.
So what is carving? Carving uses small hand-held tools to whittle, chip, and sculpt wood or any other medium, such as bar soap, into whatever your imagination can create.
There’s a phrase “If it’s free, it’s for me.” If you would like to start today, it won’t cost a cent. Simply stop by the Garden Shed, the small building in front of the Community Center adjacent to the dog park, on any given Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The members of the Albemarle Carvers Club would love to meet you, show you what they’re working on, and provide you with a piece of Tupelo wood to get started. Who knows, you may find yourself starting to carve a family spoon. What’s a family spoon? A beautiful wooden spoon filled with symbols that tell the story of your family. Hang it in the kitchen, by the mantle, or wherever. It will be a lasting reflection of your creativity.
The club currently has eight “regulars” with a few others that come in from time to time. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this is a co-ed club. That’s right ladies. You too can join the fun and show off what your imagination can create. Most beginners start off with a relief carving. As your skills develop, you can learn carving in the round and chip carving. Many times, folks go on to paint their carving and truly bring it to life.
You too can start making figurines, flowers, fish, birds, spoons, or various Christmas decorations—whatever your mind can conjure. Stop by, meet John Balis, Barbara Boyer, Russ Gregor, Trevor Willsmer, Carl Jonson, and some of the other carvers. They’d love to see you.