Classes
What do we teach in our classes?
Each year we teach several projects aimed towards building carving skills and introducing different types of carving, i.e., carving in the round, relief carving, chip carving, cottonwood bark carving, etc. There is plenty of variety to keep students interested throughout the season.
When are classes conducted?
All classes are taught in the evening, beginning at 6:00P and continuing to around 8:00P. Content is taught on Thursday. Current NAWA members can join in any or all of the class sessions.
How much do classes cost?
Classes are FREE but we do ask that students join NAWA. Dues are $25.00 a year and must be paid at or before the first class session. Instructors sell blanks for each project at a nominal fee, generally around $4 (except cottonwood bark or relief blanks which may be slightly more).
What tools are needed for classes?
A SHARP carving knife, optional chip carving knife, strop, and grinding compound, carving glove, and thumb guard are the basic tools needed. If you do not have these items and wish to purchase them at club cost, they will be available at the first class at an average cost of $45.
Special Events
From time to time, we are made aware of special classes and/or workshops offered by one of our members or by area woodcarvers or organizations. If we find out about these opportunities, we will post them on our News page and in the Calendar.
We offer beginner carving classes each year, February through May, on Thursdays, at Oak Park Baptist Church.
You do not have to be a beginner to take classes.
The class times, dates, and projects are included in the Calendar (link above).
If you have questions or wish to sign up for our carving classes, please contact us below. Frank Thompson, our class coordinator, will contact you soon.
Carving Class Interest Form
Meet Our Instructors
Phil Williams
A charter member of NAWA, Phil has been carving just about forever and can carve anything you can imagine. He was a member of the group that carved the magnificent eagle that can be found in the lobby of the Guntersville State Park lodge and you can view a picture of the eagle on our ABOUT page. He is absolutely famous (or infamous) for his creative and humorous combo carvings such as the "Hummule", a hummingbird when viewed from one angle and a mule from another. He served as a proud member of the 101st Airborne Division and has many heart-warming and entertaining stories about those years. Phil is a warm and generous person and you can always count on him to offer a helping hand in any undertaking. Students (and in fact, all of us) are very fortunate to have his expertise and experience to draw upon.
Jerry Kresge
Jerry began carving in 2005 after attending NAWA's annual show. He believed that carving would be a great skill to develop for his retirement years. So he joined NAWA, became a student in the 2006 wood carving classes, and has been carving ever since. His favorite style of carving is deep relief. Jerry prefers relief carving from the sunken through low and deep to pierced relief presentations. He has found that relief carvings incorporate just about all the skills and techniques of the other styles and only requires attention to the carving details on one side! He has been involved with construction and renovation management for the Army around the world and finds many of his subjects during his travels. He and his wife Kathy came to Huntsville from Anniston in 2001 because of a job reassignment.
Larry Nix
Larry is retired from the Postal Service and is a long-time member of NAWA. He has been carving since 1987. His favorite subjects to carve are animals, especially horses, and his carvings of them are unbelievably beautiful. He also carves dogs so realistic that you want to reach out and pet them. In addition, he is also known for his lovely human bust carvings and has won numerous prizes and Purchase Awards as well the People's Choice award. He constantly takes top prizes in our annual shows. Go to any of the Show Winners slide shows to see examples of his stunning work.
Phil Terry
Phil is an incredibly talented individual. In addition to his carving and wood burning, he does beautiful, intricate ship models and is also president of the Living Art Bonsai Society. He has won numerous awards for his carving and wood burning and he is the only person to have ever won People's and Carver's Choice at the same woodcarving show. Though he can carve absolutely anything, his true love is carving cottonwood bark. The details he includes in his bark carvings delight all who see them. He keeps pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible. We are indeed fortunate that he is sharing his techniques with us both in the Beginner classes and in Advanced classes that he has offered in the past. In his "spare" time, Phil serves as both our current President & Show Chair.
Juergen Haukohl
Juergen is our newest instructor. A retired engineer, he is originally from Germany and came to Huntsville in 1950 when his father was brought here by Wernher Von Braun to work on the Redstone rocket program. Though he has been carving less than 3 years, the mastery he has accomplished is amazing. He professes to enjoying all types of carving but his bird carvings, for example, are simply beautiful. For his first teaching project, he taught a wonderful Scottie Dog, a version of which won 1st prize in the 2017 Show and Competition.
Ready for a new adventure?
Come learn to carve with us!
