Okay now...this is just some thoughts I've had for the past few years. As I'm always being ask if I do seminars I've been kicking around ways to do something similar but with a unique Out West touch. Here are some of my ideas and I'd appreciate your input but most importantly I'd really appreciate your attendance should I decide to go with it.-
First and foremost I'd want it on a personal level...no timers to make sure everyone gets their share. To prevent that the group would be very limited...say no more than six. As the project would take several days to complete ... say 4 or 5...by the end of it you'd probably prefer seeing less of me than more.
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Where? Why at the Out West Institute of Carving Excellence! I have a teriffic shop with all the tools anyone would need to do just about any project. And as we would be doing a lot more than just whittling on someone's roughout those tools would be nessary. And when I say project I mean from raw wood to a gallery quality piece. Figure developement, layout, carving, painting, scene setting and mounting...we'd do it all. And as I'm a complete control freak I'd be on you constantly to make sure you don't wander off the true path as I see it. One thing I would not do is carve your figure for you. You would be expected to keep up with the group. Naturally, this type of instruction would be aimed at the more experienced carver.
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The charge? Nothing..Zero...Zip...Nada!! As I'd be in the shop anyway your company and friendship would be payment enough. Judy and I are far from starving so we don't need your money. You would be required to bring your carving tools, carving glove & thumb protection , wood, pyro-burner, chair and paint brushes. I'd furnish the shop tools to cut the blank, glue any attachments, paint and varnish. We'd all be using the same paint colors so we'd use mine to ensure the same end result. I would also require you to sign a liability waiver. Oh....free coffee too!
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We live just a few miles south of Grove, Oklahoma in one of the prettiest areas of the state. There is no shortage of local accomodations from motels to cabins. I'd try and schedule it off-season to cut the costs as much as possible. Good places to eat, a Casino about every half-mile, and theres great places to visit in almost every direction from our driveway entrance.
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One more thing and this is important. A lot of carvers think my tools, techniques and methods border on blasphemy. Personally I care not one iota about such narrow-minded views. My methods might be off the norm a bit but they produce great carvings of high quality on a consistant basis that are in demand. While some might express objections with my ways of doing something you'll still see them shopping at my table. I'll willingly show you how I do things I just want you to willingly accept them as long as you're on the ranch.
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So let me know what you think about this idea.
