This is a great class for first time carvers. You will be surprised and thrilled with the little bird you create.

This beginner’s 3.5 hour wood carving class will teach you the basics of power carving (with small rotary tool) and the techniques on how to break a subject down to make it simple. Student will have the option of leaving it plain, or decorate with woodburning tools.

About the instructor:

Marie McDonough has always said that when she grew up, she wanted to be a wood carver. “I want to create beautiful carvings from wood, to share my knowledge and skills and to promote woodcarving so that it doesn’t become something of the past.” At age 72, she is living the dream. Marie accepts limited commissions and says she has not found anything she cannot carve and loves a good challenge. The exception is, she does not do people or their pets. She just completed a large commission of a 24” Northern Pike jumping out of the water for a lumber company in Indiana. She offers limited classes in the Galena, IL area as well as occasional small groups at her workshop in Woodbine, IL.

Marie was born in Florida, raised in the bush country of British Columbia, Canada where she observed the wildlife that is so much a part of her wood sculptures. Eventually Marie came to Dubuque, IA where she studied advertising layout and design at Clark College. Marie opened The Art Shop which sold artists’ consignment pieces. She taught private oil painting classes as well at Northeast Iowa Technical Institute. Family business sent her to California, where she attended Long Beach City College, studying visual arts and sculpture. Returning to the Dubuque area, she met and worked with a master wood carver part-time for a year until “life” carried her away to other pursuits. Over the last 30 years, Marie has worked full time in the senior living industry and accepted commissioned pieces when time was available.

January 20, 2024, from Noon–3:30 pm -- CLASS IS FULL