multimedia design & research
:: research-led practice :: practice-led research ::
DR NICOLA WOOD
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My research would not be possible without empathy for the craftspeople I work with and this is greatly assisted by engaging in craft practice myself. For fifteen years I have carved spoons, initially as a hobby, but nowadays I both teach spoon carving and sell the spoons I make.
Spoon carving
The spoons I make come from the Scandinavian tradition; carved in green wood with an axe and knife. The major appeal is that it is a very accessible craft. The raw material is small diameter branchwood, often prunings from my own garden or waste from a local tree surgeon.
The tools are inexpensive and a special workshop is not necessary, just a large log to act as a chopping block. I do most of my carving in my front room in front of the fire. At the end of the evening most of the shavings get scooped into the log burner and the hoover quickly removes the rest from the carpet!
Carving courses
I run weekend spoon carving courses with my partner Robin. The format for our teaching is based on my research and we are rather proud of the number of people who continue carving after they have been on a course.
On our spoon carving foundation course for beginners we focus on understanding how to use the tools and the working properties of wood rather than making spoons. The learners spend quite some time practising different knife cuts, whittling sticks away to nothing. Through firstly learning to use tools efficiently and safely whilst not making something, when they start spoon carving they make far better spoons.
At the end of the weekend they go away with a knife, some wood and the basic skills they need to continue. We keep in touch with many people who we have taught and it is lovely when they return for a developers course.
Learning resources
Throughout the time we have been teaching I have documented what we have taught and how we have taught it. I have developed a series of interpretive materials which we use as visual reminders as we are teaching and make available on a private wiki to support learners after they have been on a course. We are now developing this material into a book which should be published soon.
Some video of myself demonstrating carving:
