Sunburst Chip Carving

Chip Carving on gourds is different from what woodworkers call chip carving.  Instead of using a carving knife, we will be using small rounded carving tools.  A variety of these tools will be supplied and you will learn how to use as well as  sharpen them.  If you enjoy this type of carving, we can help you chose which tool would be best to invest in and where they can be purchased.

The design we will be learning may look complicated, but once you learn this simple cut and how to draw the design it will become much easier. 

What to bring:

A gourd that is not thin will work best for this type of carving, as enough thickness is needed to not cut all the way through the shell.  Less than 1 /4” thickness will work but nothing paper thin. Cannon ball gourds are not suggested as they are very dense and not easy to carve into.  Do not paint the inside of your gourd as you will need to be able to tell if you are cutting too deeply!

If you have a Kevlar glove please bring it, or even a  cotton glove that has tiny steel wires woven in it works well for holding and protection.  If you decide you want to do more carving, it is recommended to invest in good safety gloves.  Some such gloves will be provided for you to try out.                           

ACP Members price - $45

Teacher:  Barbara Bellchambers