Shaping skills: an introductory wood carving training
A variety group of students, from furniture professionals’ designers to art lovers, was involved in a face-to-face training course on woodworking. The course, with a duration of 25 hours, was implemented during a full week, where they discover the tools and materials used in this craft, the woodcarving process and the most common figures that could be created through a very practical way.
The group of five students attending the wood carving workshop presented a diverse range of prior experience, though the majority are complete beginners in the discipline. Students were requested to complete an initial survey on their previous knowledge and interests on this course. Most participants had some familiarity with woodworking: two had worked with wood professionally and another two had experience as hobbyists. Only one student reported no prior experience at all.
Despite this, none of the students had previously taken any wood carving courses, and all five reported having no specific experience in wood carving itself. This was further confirmed by the fact that none of them had more than a year of experience in the craft, most were starting entirely from scratch.
Regarding their technical knowledge, only two students indicated they had basic knowledge about different types of wood suitable for carving. The other three were completely unfamiliar with this aspect.
All five participants joined the course with the intention of learning wood carving from scratch, rather than improving existing skills or pursuing it professionally.
In terms of project interests, the group showed a split preference: two students were most interested in wood sculpture, while three leaned toward furniture and decorative items.
During the training course students acquired theoretical and practical knowledge and skills on woodcarving, being able to develop different pieces by themselves, starting with initial movements and steps, and finalising with complete pieces.
At the end of the training course, the feedback from the five participating students was overwhelmingly positive, indicating both high satisfaction with the course and significant learning progress.
All five students reported being very satisfied with the course through an anonymous survey. Four participants found the content very useful for their personal or professional development, while one considered it useful. The quality of materials provided, such as wood, gouges, and workbenches, was rated excellent by four students and good by one.
In terms of difficulty, most students felt the course had an adequate level of technical challenge. All agreed that the balance between theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice was well achieved, highlighting a well-structured learning experience.
Instructor support received the highest praise, with all students rating the instructor’s attention and availability as excellent. Likewise, the exercises and pieces created during the course were considered very interesting and appropriate by all.
Three out of five students expressed their intention to continue practicing wood carving after the course, while the remaining two were still undecided. All students were enthusiastic about continuing their learning and stated they would definitely participate in future carving courses. Every student also confirmed they would recommend the course to others.
In terms of learning outcomes, all students strongly agreed that the course enabled them to acquire basic knowledge in wood carving. Most felt they had gained sufficient skills to continue practicing independently, and three students confirmed they would continue carving after the course. The remaining two were still undecided.
Notably, all participants agreed that interaction with the instructor and peers was crucial to their learning process, highlighting the value and effectiveness of in-person training. This strongly suggests that the face-to-face format played a key role in facilitating skill acquisition and building a supportive learning environment.
This evaluation demonstrates that the course was not only well-received but also effective in equipping complete beginners with foundational skills in wood carving. The students left the workshop with a strong sense of achievement and interest in continuing their development in the craft.