Kuksa Carving: Beginner to Advanced (In Person)

This is an in-person class held at Vesterheim Folk Art School. 

Kuksa carving is an old-world tradition that has a rich history in Scandinavia. Not only will you learn to make your own, but you will gain insight into how the instructor develops designs and makes their own. This is a great course aimed at both beginners and more experienced wood carvers.

In this course, you will be fully immersed in the world of kuksa carving, the ultimate wooden drinking cup. The course will cover sourcing wood, designing your own cups, learning various knife and tool grips, innovative ways to use tools, decorative carving and painting, and unique and advanced hollowing techniques. We will also discuss tool maintenance.

One of the goals of the workshop is to build a relationship with each of the tools we will use, while gaining an understanding of how they work in relation to the timber itself.

We will be swinging axes and adzes and using specialty gouges, hook tools, and the humble, but versatile, sloyd knife. This is a very unique opportunity because you will be learning to safely use such a large array of tools, including some specialty adzes and gouges, while developing techniques that bridge the gap between spoon and bowl carving.

In class, some lovely green wood will be provided that you will transform from raw material to a fine drinking vessel by the end of the course.

This workshop will help you gain confidence in yourself and the tools being used. By the end of the course you will have all of the knowledge and skills needed to start crafting your own unique cups that will get passed down from generation to generation.

Alex will be bringing his collection of wooden cups to use as design examples, as well as some freshly carved kuksa he will have for sale.