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Fine Arts · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Wood Sculpture

Wood is a living material with grain, history, and warmth. This studio course covers both subtractive (carving) and additive (construction) woodworking techniques. Students will master hand tools (chisels, mallets) and power machinery (bandsaws, sanders) to manipulate timber. The curriculum emphasizes understanding grain direction, joinery, and sustainable finishing techniques to reveal the natural beauty of the medium.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master wood anatomy: Grain direction, species hardness, and movement
  2. Operate workshop machinery safely: Bandsaw, Drill Press, and Sanders
  3. Execute traditional joinery: Mortise & Tenon, Dowels, and Biscuits
  4. Practice subtractive sculpting: Relief carving and carving in the round
  5. Apply finishes: Sanding schedules, oils, waxes, and sealants
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01Wood Technology: Hardwoods vs. Softwoods
  2. 02Shop Safety & Machine Certification
  3. 03Hand Tools: Chisels, Gouges, & Sharpening
  4. 04The Bandsaw: Cutting Curves & Resawing
  5. 05Additive Sculpture: Lamination & Gluing
  6. 06Joinery I: Mechanical Joints
  7. 07Joinery II: Artistic Joinery
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Carving I: Relief Carving Basics
  10. 10Carving II: In the Round (Form)
  11. 11Texture: Rasps, Rifflers, & Burning
  12. 12Bending Wood: Steam & Lamination
  13. 13Wood Turning Introduction (Lathe)
  14. 14Surface Finishing: The Sanding Sequence
  15. 15Finishing: Oils, Waxes, & Varnishes
  16. 16Final Project: The Carved or Constructed Sculpture

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Carved or Constructed Sculpture

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology by R. Bruce Hoadley
  2. The Complete Manual of Woodworking by Albert Jackson
  3. Sculpture in Wood by Jack C. Rich
  4. Tangible Things (Contemporary Wood Art)
  5. Norwegian Wood (Contextual appreciation of the material)
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