PORT TOWNSEND SCHOOL OF WOODWORKING
I am incredibly honored to be an instructor at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, located in Port Townsend, WA.
Port Townsend School Course Description:
Canoe axáa “paddles” play a central role in many maritime Northwest Coast traditions. In Tlingit society they articulate travel both physical and metaphorical; they are used for the practical purpose of rowing but also in ceremonial dance and symbolic acts and events such as entering another peoples’ territory. In this workshop, you will learn to carve, sand, paint and oil a paddle made of yellow cedar. All paddles will be fully functional and will range from three to five feet in length depending on personal preference. James will include demonstrations on the traditional use of tools in addition to carving instruction. Students will learn about both traditional and contemporary pigments used to adorn the paddles, employing Northwest Coast formline drawing and painting techniques. As formline design can be quite complex and time consuming, James will develop a formline design that can be transferred and individually painted on your paddle. This course will cover a broad range of techniques and skills, and it is well suited to both complete beginners and advanced carvers.
My first course will be Tlingit Canoe Axáa - Carving a Tlingit Paddle, offered November 8-12 2021.
The Course is open to all Skill Levels
