Class description

 

Relief carving is a type of sculpture in which a 3-D design is carved into a flat surface. Relief carving can be applied to wood, stone, leather, bone, and many other substances--including gourds!

 

 

This is your opportunity to learn how to achieve more dimension in your gourd carving designs. Using relief carving techniques, you will carve three realistic feathers into a 5x6 inch gourd plaque. The idea is that the feathers will appear to not even be connected to the gourd. This class was designed to give you the confidence to move on to relief carving flowers, animals and more.

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Our focus is to complete the carved design in class. Once the carving is done, we will use any remaining time to paint the piece. Students will be given a detailed tutorial to finish the painting at home if necessary.

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This class is best for students who are comfortable using their rotary tools on gourds.

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I will supply the class-ready 5x6 gourd cut-out plaque, a practice shard, patterns, paints, sandpaper, a detailed tutorial, and other miscellaneous items you need for the class with the exception of the items listed below in the "What Students Need to Bring" section. 

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What you are asked to bring

 

• Large, medium, small and tiny soft-bristle brushes for acrylic paints

• Palette knife (if you have one)

• Scissors

• Pencil and good eraser

• A heat tool (or hair dryer)

• A dust mask is required for carving classes

• Eye protection is required for carving classes (Safety glasses or eye glasses)

• Your wood burner (An inexpensive hobby wood burner will work for this project. I will have hobby wood burners students can share if you don't have one.)

• High speed rotary tool (like Dremel or Pro Carver). A Flex Shaft accessory is recommended if you are using a Dremel tool.

• Your carving burs (bits). Bring what you have, and I will have inexpensive burs for sale if you don't have what you need. We will be using:

1. 5mm, 6mm, or 7mm cutting wheel (I will sell the 5mm cutting wheel for $7 and the 7mm cutting wheel for $10.)

2. Cylinder sanding drums, or structured tooth cylinders (Course, Medium, and Fine grits)

3. I will have sander replacement drums for $1 ea.

4. Diamond coated grinding burs: 2mm and 3mm balls, 4mm and 6mm cylinders, 4mm and 6mm inverted cones, a T-shape bur and a needle point bur. (I will sell these burs for $2 each, and I will sell a set of all of the diamond burs listed for $12.)

5. Optional Items:

• A set of diamond coated mini riffler files can be helpful if you have.

• A set of regular mini riffler files can also be helpful if you have.

• A hands-free magnifier, if you think you need for close-up work (or magnified reader glasses)

• An apron or big shirt to protect your clothes

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Class cancellation policy

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If you need to cancel this class, you MUST contact us before August 25, 2023 in order to receive a refund. Note that NGS will withhold $10 to cover processing fees. To cancel, call Patti Jo Newsom at 817-917-7873 or email us at nevadagourdsociety@gmail.com.

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If this class does not meet its minimum number of students by August 25th, the class will be cancelled, you will be contacted, and your registration fee will be refunded.

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All classes are subject to change.       

About the instructors

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Patti Jo Newsom is an active member of the American Gourd Society, Co-founder and Co-chair of the Nevada Gourd Society, Webmaster of the Nevada Gourd Society, and Director of the Pahrump Valley Gourd Patch. She is a certified Gare instructor and over the years she has experimented with a variety of artistic design techniques, painting on canvas, wood, and ceramics. For the past 13 years she has concentrated on her gourd art and teaching classes for those who want to learn her techniques.​

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Questions about this class?

 

Patti Jo can be contacted at pattijonewsom@hotmail.com or 817-917-7873

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