Presented by Outaouais Wood Carvers Sponsored by Flexcut Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 9:30AM to 2:30 PM Nepean Creative Arts Center, 35 Stafford Road, Ottawa- Unit 7 Course Leader: John Bowser is an OWC member who has been teaching the how’s and why’s of carving for more than two decades. Target Audience: Beginner to more Advanced Carvers A basswood blank will be included. Additional blanks will be available to buy in a variety of shapes and woods (walnut, butternut etc…) for a modest cost. A short demonstration on Kolrossing will be included as a small bonus. Tools suggested for this project are knives, as well as palm or full size gouges, sizes three to seven. A clamp or bench hook may be an asset however, not required. Please note the instructor will have sharpening aids on site as well. Fee: OWC member $ 45 Non-member $ 75 (includes $30 for annual membership fee) Cancellation refunds only available with 48hrs notice of the course. Registration and payment are required in advance. Registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Maximum 12 participants. Note: a minimum of 6 participants required to run this workshop Click on downloadable PDF below for registration details

Wood Wizard entries for the Pumkin Themed Wood Wizard. 1st prize to Charlie for his spooky and original pumpkin 2nd to Sue for her Ghoulish Hoodie characters 3rd to Lois showing a pyrography on paper and one on wood from same source. Honorable Mention to Erich for his carved pumpkin with leaves thanks to all who brought in their beautiful work, made it difficult to judge! Show and Tell Charlie brought in a squirrel hiding in a knothole and a Bark house. The little gnome he had carved previously was the finishing touch for the bark house. Lois has been thrifting again! She found leather mask for an exceptionally good price. She also found a Halloween plaque which has the added bonus of being reversible with a Christmas themed pic on the back. Show and Tell Larry R brought in this lovely Wood Spirit carved in Butternut. The wood grain just brings this to life! Bob G showed us an Antelope that he carved as well as a dish fashioned after a clam shell to prove that he can carve things other than geometrics! Then he showed how he creates templates for his geometric designs from clay, paper, wire... even the middle of a golf ball. Sue awarding Charlie his belated prize for winning the Peoples' Choice Competition in June 2022. Then, we all sat down and got to work carving some comfort birds and fiddle sticks which we will donate later this year.

Oct 6th, looks like everyone was having a great time Oct 22nd, all hard at work...mmm John brought in a collections of spoons which he has carved. Spoon Carving course on Nov. 18, he will teach a spoon similar to the ones in the photo to the left, but some other examples to whet our appetites and get the creative juices flowing. Visit the Learning Page for details on the course

Download and open PDF below for more information.

We enjoyed a beautiful day at the market this year. Lots of visitors who stopped by for a chat, and free entertainment from the resident turkeys interacting with the children. Thanks to Bob and Charlie for sharing the day.

A beautiful day outdoors, but folks hard at work on their individual projects

Great for us to get back together after the summer break! The theme this month for Wood Wizard was 'Pine Cones" 1st went to Louise Cote for her bowing Canada Goose with Pine cone body 2nd to John Bowser for his relief carving of a pine branch with cone 3rd went to Erich Haber for his goose mounted on a large Monterey pine cone H.M. to Larry Reed for his pyrography of a pine cone. Thanks to the other entrants Bob Thompson, George Parent, Charlie Brimley and Sue MacCullum Show and Tell Bob Gander brought in three lovely free form items. A mobius, collapsing interlocking rings and another which he textured to enhance the different rings. Sue MacCullum brought in a few of her gnomes. She explained how she applies oil before painting and then leaves the faces natural wood. Erich Haber presented some items which he purchased. He was intrigued by how the wooden frog was hollowed out to produce a life like sound when the stick is rubbed down the frogs back. also 3 ornaments. pictured below is a carved and painted Borucan mask which he purchased in Costa Rica (pictured below) Bob Thompson brought in a carved Santa pulling a Christmas tree and a carving of a Betta Fish. Larry Reed brought in some Wood Spirits and explained how he used Tom Wolfes spirit books for inspiration. Colin Harwood brought in an American Kestral. He explained that he had entered in a show and received feedback that the colours were too dark, so he has re-painted it. Also included a tiny mouse that he had previously carved. John Bowser brought in some very colourful caricature fish fashioned after Nima Kians work. Can't help but smile when you see these! Pam Laprise brought in a fiddle stick and comfort whale carved in cedar and finished with mineral oil and beeswax.

Aug 19th, we had 2 demos going. One in Strathcona for their Art in the Park event, and one in Vankleek Hill as part of their Fair, in the Education Venue. Although it felt more like Oct, the sun did come out at Strathcona which increased attendance, and we had a bit of a windbreak going at the fair. Talked to lots of people! Thanks to Bob, Rick, Wayne and Ron for manning the booths.

Great day at the Market, lots of visitors as it was one of the Garlic Festival weekends.

On July 23rd, 4 members did a carving demonstration at Pinhey's Point Historical Site, displaying some of their carvings and promoting our club and the art of wood carving. They had a glorious day, lots of visitors and several people took advantage of the opportunity to work on a comfort bird. No worries about the children, they were using small rasps and files to round off their birds.😉 Special thanks to Rick for bringing the bird cutouts, and to Sue, Bob and Erich for doing the demonstration. I suspect they had as much fun as the visitors!

Our final Monthly meeting of the year consisted of the annual Elections and People's Choice Competition. Winner of Novice was Anita F. with her spoon, Intermediate as won by Erich H. for his Goldfish and in Open, Colin H. won for his Santa & Reindeer scene. Overall People's Choice was won by Colin and his Reindeer. Thanks to all who braved the smoke to come and enter their works!

We will be holding our Annual Elections for the executive and other vacant positions. Please consider volunteering to help out as 'many hands make light work' We will also be holding our People's Choice Competition. This is a fun competition where those present will vote on their favourite piece. Please consider submitting some of your work for the competition (completed within the past 36 months). If you cant attend, contact us and arrangements can be made to collect at one of the clutches. Comfort birds carved by members to donate- thanks to all who band sawed the roughouts and those who carved the final product. We have a lovely assortment for someone in need!