The Carving Special Interest Group is bringing Nationally-known carvers Jim and Chris O'Dea to Beaver Lake Nature Center for 2 days of carving instruction.   Jim O'Dea will conduct a workshop on Face Carving on both Saturday and Sunday, June 10 & 11 from 8:30am to 4pm for up to 10 people per day.  His wife, Chris, will conduct a workshop on Saturday, June 10th on carving a Quilted Stocking for up to 8 people per day.  
Cost for Each Workshop:  Each day of carving with Jim O'Dea is $25.  Saturday carving with Chris O'Dea is $20.  
To Register for Either Event:  First, send an email to [email protected] with your name to reserve a spot.  Then, send your check made out to Woodworkers of Central New York, Inc. along with your contact information to the corporate address:    3405 Patchett Road, Baldwinsville, NY  13027
Workshop Location:  The workshop will be held in the smaller meeting room at Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville.
Carving Supplies Sale:  Jim will bring along a variety of carving supplies he sells.  Attendees and members not attending will be allowed to purchase the supplies at times designated by Jim as we get closer to the event.
Class Information: Face Carving with Jim O'Dea​
This class is an introduction to face carving for the beginning woodcarver with little or no experience doing human faces. It is also useful to those that are not satisfied with the faces they are currently doing and those just looking for a different way. Students will have the opportunity to follow a methodology in developing a human face using just a knife. But, if you have gouges bring them ALL. Jim will show you where they can work better or faster. The emphasis of the study stick class days will be on the process, not the artistic nature of the carving. Jim does not cover very much about expression, gender differences, racial differences or anything else during this time, rather he is trying to get the student to carve a face that looks human.  Practice and application can then develop the artistic nature of your carving. Attention will be paid to how you use the tools to get "clean" cuts, precise cuts, and how not to cut yourself.
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Each student will carve their own step-by-step study stick, with each step numbered, which will lead them through the process of blocking out a human face on the corner of a 1 1/8 inch square block about 12 inches long. Jim spreads the steps out and includes as many steps as possible to provide clarity of the step. He uses 2 of these sticks to block out the face - completing the nose and an open mouth with teeth & tongue. You will also do eyes step-by-step on another stick. Ears are done on a smaller stick especially prepared for doing ears. Four different sticks in all.
Class Information:  Quilted Stocking with Chris O'Dea
The stocking (below left) is ornament size (4" x 1") and is shown in the photo.  Students should bring a knife, V-tool, and woodburner with tips.  Chris will have paints available to use to colorize your stocking. There will be some tool loaners available.  She will have additional blanks available for any of the other items shown below.
Jim O'Dea lives in Rotonda West, FL.  He has 45 years experience carving human caricatures, carousel horses, realistic freshwater fish, and whales. He has taught woodcarving for 24 years, including sessions at the Lake Placid NY Woodcarving Experience.  He also taught evening courses at Ledyard High School, Ledyard, CT and weekend sessions at the New England Carousel Museum in Mystic, CT.  Over time he has taught classes  at many events:   the New England Woodcarvers Retreat held in Rhode Island; the North East Woodcarvers Roundup in Honesdale, PA;  the Michigan Woodcarvers Roundup in Evart, MI; the Indiana Woodcarvers Summer Camp;  and the Buckeye Woodcarvers Roundup in Ohio.  He often teaches at woodcarving clubs including the Mystic Carvers Club in Mystic, CT; the Rainbow Woodcarvers Club in Niagara Falls, NY; the Southtown Woodcarvers Club in Elma, NY; the Peace River Carvers Club in Arcadia, FL; the Myakka River Carvers Club in El Jobean, FL; the Northport Woodcarvers in Northport, FL; the Charlotte County Woodcarvers in Punta Gorda, FL; and woodcarvers groups in Sun City, FL; New Port Richy, FL; and Morristown, NY.