The Mediterranean acanthus plant first caught the eye of ancient Greek stone carvers and in the Baroque period it was further developed as part of carved ornamentation. The style reached northern Europe in the 17th century and reached a high point in Scandinavia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is a primary form of adornment in Scandinavian woodcarving. In this course, you will be introduced to basic relief carving tools and techniques. Practicing on a provided "blank," you'll learn the standard forms of the acanthus figure, then choose individual projects, including such household items as plate shelves, candleholders or bread servers. Sessions on tool selection and sharpening, and on finishing techniques, are included. Tools are available for loan and/or purchase.