Ripple River Art Gallery Wood Carving Class

Learn Scandinavian figure carving
at Ripple River Gallery

Award-winning figure carver, Bill Jaeger, will lead a two-day workshop in Scandinavian carving, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17, at Ripple River Gallery, 27591 Partridge Avenue, Aitkin, near Bay Lake. The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

This two-day class will start with a short history of Scandinavian carving and its primary artists. Next, the class will move on to tool safety, sharpening and knife stroke techniques. Students may then choose figure blanks from several designs and then begin carving with group and individual instruction.

The second day the emphasis will be on painting and oil finishing with the goal of sending all carvers home with a finished figure carving.

Tools recommended for the class are a carving knife and a few palm gouges. Leather strops, knives and extra blanks will be available for purchase in class.

About the instructor: Bill Jaeger spent 29 years designing retail stores and related cabinetry before turning to woodcarving. As instructor at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, he has had the opportunity to spend time with and learn from a few of the Scandinavian carvers left working in their craft. He has also traveled to Sweden to study with woodcarvers there.

Bill’s knowledge of carving and tradition will make the class an enjoyable experience for all. Jaeger has won numerous ribbons for his carved figures at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum’s National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition at Decorah, IA, and at other Scandinavian festivals.

Cost of the workshop is $115. Class size is limited. Participants should bring a bag lunch (coffee and snacks provided).

To reserve space in this class or for more information, call Ripple River Gallery, 218/678-2575 or e-mail ripriv@mlecmn.net.

Ripple River Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, January through March, or other times by chance or arrangement. The gallery is located five miles south of Deerwood on Highway 6, then 3 miles east of Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge on County Road 14 to Partridge Avenue; or south of Aitkin on Highway 169 to Bennettville, then 3.2 miles west on County Road 11 to Partridge Avenue.