Basic wood carving classes offered

The only wood carving club in the area, the Tri County Whittlers and Wood Carvers at Nevada is once again offering basic wood carving classes starting Jan. 17. The seven-week class offers free instruction, but makes available all the tools and supplies for the club’s cost of $80. The kit includes a bench knife, v-tool, gouge, strop, leather thumb guard, patterns, printed instructions and wood cutouts for the classes.

There is a $25 deposit required at the time of sign up with the remaining $55 to be paid at the first night of classes. Classes will be held at the Nevada YMCA one night a week, Tuesdays, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Since classes are held in January and February, on nights of bad weather, the class will be canceled and the course will be extended. Students will be introduced to in-the-round and relief carving. Projects include a weasel, cowboy boot, flower or mushroom relief, a stylized bird and a caricature.

Instructors for the class will be Tom Beck of El Dorado Springs and Donna Thomas of Nevada. While the club was founded for Barton, Cedar and Vernon counties in Missouri, it welcomes those from nearby Kansas and Missouri areas, too. “We have had active members from as far away as Harrisonville, Pittsburg and Jasper,” reported Tom Beck, club president, from El Dorado Springs.

“The classes are a good way to obtain beginner skills at wood carving, and the club is a great support as carvers continue and need help with projects. Our experienced carvers are always available for assistance and carving problem solving,” said Donna Thomas, a 25+year member.

To sign up and pay the deposit, or to get more information about the classes, Donna Thomas can be contacted at 417-448-4560 and Tom Beck can be contacted at 417-876-6898. The class is limited to the first seven to enroll.

WOOD CARVERS – Shown in the photo are left to right:  Tom Beck of El Dorado Springs, Jay Bowmaster of Nevada, Ron Hager of Lamar, Kim Severance of Nevada and Doug Abbas of El Dorado Springs. The only wood carving club locally is offering classes every Tuesday night for seven weeks.