We are excited to announce that John Engler will be teaching classes this year here at our shop. His first class will be June 11-13, relief carving (Fri, Sat, Sun) and then Mon, June 14, is the painting class for your project. Cost is $80 per day for the carving class and $90 per day for the painting class. You may purchase carving blanks from John when you arrive, prices for them are $36-$45. John provides all the paints and brushes. 

Tools to bring (or purchase here when you arrive): 

#3 gouges, all sizes, especially ¾” and ½”, #1 flat chisels, ½”, ¾”, and 1 ¼” and a skew. A good carving knife and #3 veiners in various sizes. Also bring your favorite tools, a safety glove, and a mask.

John Engler has been a professional artist for 40 years, specializing in relief carving and watercolor painting. He has taught classes in 17 different states and exhibited artwork at Silver Dollar City’s National Crafts Festival for over thirty years and at his uncle Pete’s craft mall, The Engler Block.

His class will include lessons in medium to deep relief carving. No experience necessary. All levels of carving experience welcome. A wide variety of subject matter is available for the class, including animals and architectural. You may view the projects to carve on his website: johnenglerwoodcarving.com or pick one when you arrive. If you want a special pattern created by John, you will need to contact him at least 3 weeks ahead of scheduled class. You may email John at john@johnenglerwoodcarving.com or phone him at 417-209-6842. Call Peter Engler Designs at 417-335-6862 to schedule your class and pay at the time of scheduling to reserve your spot. 

Painting Class By Cindy Doran

Cost is $65 per student plus an additional $15 to the instructor for all supplies, including a gourd to paint on, acrylic paints, and brushes.

She has been a decorative painter and instructor since 1973, and has also taught wood-burning, and gourd carving.

 If you would like to schedule a future class with Cindy, call or email the shop. 

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Beginner Class by Don Arnett

Don Arnett is one of our newest instructors. He has been a guest carver here and at Silver Dollar City for many years. His work is on display at our downtown location. Don has a variety of projects to choose from for a class. His class will be by appointment, with at least a 2 day notice. Cost is $65 per day and includes the roughout to learn on. Class hours are 10am to 4pm, with a lunch break. You may bring your lunch or take a break and go to one of the nearby restaurants. Beginners are welcome. Call the shop for more information and to schedule an appointment.

Gourd Carving and Alcohol Ink Classes by Ruth Schumacher

Beginner to Advanced

Ruth Schumacher will be adding 2 new classes this year for those of you who want to do some power carving. Ruth will teach you the basics of power carving a design in a gourd. You will need to bring your own power carving tools, but she will furnish the dust collector for this class if you need one.  It is very dusty, so you must bring your own face mask filter, and safety glasses for this project. You must also be able to breath in a dusty environment, and even though the dust collectors get most of the dust, it is still in the air. If you don’t have power tools, they are available for purchase when you arrive.

Cost for this class is $65 per day, plus $10+ for supplies, and length of class depends on you, as Ruth is available for more than 1 day. Call the shop at 417-335-6862 for more information and to schedule a time.

She will also teach the basics of Alcohol Ink Dyes on tile,  which is a short class that can only last a ½ day if you wish. Cost is $26 per hour.

Some examples of Gourd Power Carving:

Some examples of the Alcohol Ink Dye on Tile Class:

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Relief Carving Class by Joe Land

Advanced

Joe will be teaching his beautiful and unique style of Relief Carving and Painting. This class is  by Appointment. Cost is $85 per day, this is a 2 or 3 day class. Bring your own sharp tools and carving glove or purchase when you arrive. The project will be Santa and Bunny, pictured below. Call the shop or email to sign up or for more info.

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Gourd and Woodburning Class by Ruth Schumacher

Beginner or Advanced

This is a 1 or 2 Day Class, by appointment for your convenience, with a short 1 or 2 day notice. Ruth will cover topics such as design, color (ink dyes) simple woodburning and embellishments.You can choose from one of the beautiful projects shown below. The first 3 are pendants made from pieces of broken gourd! Beginners welcome.

Ruth has been a teacher of children and adults as well as an educational consultant for many years. Artistic interests include needlework, stained glass, including church window restorations, music, and decorative gourds.

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Log Cabin Relief Carving Class by Sheilah Nichols  

Beginner or Advanced

2 Day Class

Cost is $85 + blank.

This is a 2 day class with option of adding an additional day to paint the project if needed. Sheilah worked with John Engler for 28 years, and still 

works with him during the fall festival at Silver Dollar City.

Bring your favorite sharpened tools and safety glove.

Sheilah uses a v tool, flat gouge, and carving knife.

If you need tools or a glove you may purchase them

when you arrive. 

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