Take a chip off the old block—try your hand at chip carving! This centuries-old form of decorative carving is easily mastered and requires only basic tools. Students will first draw a design on a wooden object (wooden plates and practice boards will be provided), then, using a special chip carving knife, remove precise, geometric chips of wood to create a decorative design in the wood’s surface. Chip carving can be adapted to create designs that are strictly geometric in nature, or used for more natural, free form designs. Have something wooden that could use some decoration? Feel free to bring your own wooden object to class. Soft woods like basswood work best. Students are encouraged to attend an optional knife sharpening session the evening before.