The Doane Experience is an annual, weeklong workshop sponsored by the Mid America Woodcarvers Association of Omaha, Nebraska.
The workshop is held on the beautiful Doane College campus, in Crete, Nebraska. All classes are held in the classroom buildings and students stay in the dormitories. Meals are served in the college cafeteria. All buildings are air-conditioned and most are handicapped accessible. Dormitory rooms are double occupancy with sharing of bathroom facilities.
The curriculum of the workshop presently includes 25 classes in a variety of carving subjects and skill levels and include wood burning, tole painting, basket making and one a day classes. Currently the workshop can accommodate 375-400 students.
The current cost for the workshop is $350.00 per person, or $680.00 for couples (this includes room and board, administrative costs, and your annual membership dues to MAWA.) There are camper facilities and motels in Crete for those choosing not to stay in the dormitories (a separate tuition price applies to this group; currently $280.00 per person or $540.00 per couple)
Participants in the workshop must be members of the Mid-America Woodcarvers Association. Members as of January 1 are given the first opportunity for registration. Registration materials are mailed to current members with the February newsletter and registration is on a first come first serve basis based upon return postmarks. After March 1, registration is open to newly joining members based upon the remaining class openings. Very few people are ever turned away. The dates of the 2012 workshop are July 22 through July 28. Please see below for the 2012 classes being offered.
Mid-America Woodcarvers Association
Omaha, Nebraska
To View the Doane 2011 Finished Projects visit the "Photos" page, or click here.
DESCRIPTION OF CLASSES – 2012
1. Bark Whimsey Houses – Ken Armsbury All Levels
All Levels5 days of carving cottonwood bark whimsey houses. Students may carve houses in the round or as a wall hanging, creating their own designs. Any type of piece may be carved: house, castle, lighthouse, etc. Instructor will demonstrate carving designs, techniques, and methods. Equipment and supplies will be outlined in letter to students. Instructor will furnish bark, woodburners, grinders, dust collector and finishing materials. To see the 2012 project click here!
2. Acanthus Clock and Shelf --Izo Becic All Levels
5 days of carving 2 projects, Acanthus Clock 23”x 9”x 1”, and a Acanthus or Grapes Shelf 24” x 8” x 8”. Students need to bring 3 to 4 clamps, mallet, and large gouges. Instructor will call. To see the 2012 project click here.
3. High Speed Power Carving--- Dale Boyer All Levels
5 days of carving decorative patterns on different surfaces, including eggs! Instructor will have patterns to choose from. Students should bring dust collector, Ultra High Speed power grinder [air driven] or 40,000 rpm high speed grinder, assorted burs, and ear protection. To see the 2012 project click here!
4. Black Bear Fishing for Trout--Kirt Curtis Intermediate-Advanced
5 days of carving the Bear. The project will be carved from a basswood roughout using power and hand tools, and will be painted. The completed project will be approx. 10” x 7”. Students should bring dust collector, power grinder [Foredom, Dremel] assorted burs, sanding rolls, hand tools, and paint brushes. Cost includes roughout and paint. To see the 2012 project click here!
5 days of carving and painting a Mother Cheetah and cub. The project will be carved from a basswood roughout using power and hand tools, and will be painted. The completed project will be approx. 8”to 9” 6” wide and 4” deep. Students should bring dust collector, power grinder [Foredom, Dremel] assorted burs, sanding rolls, hand tools,lights and paint brushes. Cost includes roughout and paint. To see the 2012 project click here! To see the 2012 project click here!
5 days of carving 2 butternut busts. Projects will be 11” tall 5”1/2 wide x 4” deepl. Attention to facial details will be explored. Students will need mallet tools, palm tools, lights, extension cord and carving screws. Instructor will provide finishing materials.
7. Chip Carving---Wayne Gildseth All Levels 5 days of chip carving designs of interest and experience. Students should bring any chip carving supplies they may have, including Deft or other Laquer spray, paints or special stains. Instructor will provide designs, spray adhesives, sandpaper, and stain. To see the 2012 project click here!
5 days of carving your choice of Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Northern, Trout, Bluegill or Walleye from a basswood cutout. The size will be 9” to 17” depending on variety of fish. The project will also be wood burned, hand painted, and or air brushed. Students should bring foredom,or dremel type equipment, dust collector, carving tools, woodburner, fish scale tips{Colwood or Detail Master} 3/8” - Crappie, 1/4” - Bass, Bluegill, Northern, Walleye, 1/8” for Trout, wood base and or driftwood for mounting. Instructor will provide paint, paint brushes, and air brush. To see the 2012 project click here!
9. Pyrography-- Gen Kreyling All Levels 5 days of burning on practice board, basswood, boxes, or gourds as desired. Students should bring woodburner and pens, red ink pen, white eraser, clear ruler, and masking tape. Instructor will provide practice board, patterns, graphite paper and will send letter or e-mail.
10. Caricature Carving – Pete LeClair All Levels
5 days of carving 2 projects starting from cutouts. Projects will be a bust approx.. 7 inches and a bottle-stopper head. Students should bring gouges, knives, gloves, pencils, and Paint Brushes. Instructor will provide carving materials except tools To see the 2012 project click here!
11. Antler Carving [Small]--Roger Lyon Intermediate- Advanced 5 days of power carving small antler pieces or small moose antlers. Instructor will provide introduction and assistance into making patterns, transferring carving scenes and figures in antlers. Power carving tools only, dust box, lighting, etc. Student must provide own moose antler. Instructor will provide small antler pieces and will send letter. To see the 2012 project click here!
12. Full bodied Buffalo--Jim McKenney Advanced 5 days of carving full bodied buffalo out of a butternut roughout. Total overall size of the piece is 10” tall, 10” wide , and 4” thick. There will be slight wood burning to accentuate eyes and nose, the rest of the finish will be natural. Both hand and power carving methods will be used to complete the piece. Students must bring Foredom type equipment, dust collector, hand carving tools, wood burner, [light and a high speed grinder would be helpful]. Instructor will provide finishing supplies for this project
Advanced 5 days of carving full bodied buffalo out of a butternut roughout. Total overall size of the piece is 10” tall, 10” wide , and 4” thick. There will be slight wood burning to accentuate eyes and nose, the rest of the finish will be natural. Both hand and power carving methods will be used to complete the piece. Students must bring Foredom type equipment, dust collector, hand carving tools, wood burner, [light and a high speed grinder would be helpful]. Instructor will provide finishing supplies for this project 13. Caricature Animal or Human--LLoyd Meng All Levels
5 days of carving keepsake caricature animals mounted on wheel bases for pull toys. Or choice of 12 different human caricatures, policeman, teacher, doctor, nurse, golfer, or other of instructors design Projects will be carved from blanks or roughouts. Students need to bring sharp hand carving tools. To see the 2012 project click here!
14. Full Bodied Farmer—Travis Mollenor
5 days of carving a standing farmer from Basswood. Project will be 12” tall. Attention to facial details will be explored. Students will need mallet tools, palm tools, carving screws, paint brushes and a stool if needed. Instructor will provide finishing materials.15. Wildlife Relief Scenes--Shirley Meng All Levels
5 days of deep relief carving a pair of wolves in a snow scene. Additional project will be a Mother bear and cubs. Size of project 9” x 12”. Students should bring large V tool and large gouge #3 or #5 sweep, woodburner and tips, light optional. Instructor will provide water colored pencils and a woodburner if student doesn't have one. To see the 2012 project click here!
16. Hunter in a Scene—P.J. Driscoll Intermediate-Advanced
5 days of carving a Hunter in a scene from a roughout. Instructor will supply paints to finish your carving on last day. Students should bring favorite knives, gouges, carving glove, paint brushes and light. To see the 2012 project click here!
17. Shallow Relief—Wanda Reichert All Levels
5 days of shallow relief carving from various patterns. Students will carve, paint,and woodburn on a
basswood board approx. 8” x 16” x 1” [with bark on both 16 “ sides]. Students should bring #3 - 1” bent gouge, #3 - 3/8” and #3 - 3/16” gouge, skew, thin or hook bladed knife, woodburner[controlled heat] with tips G, S, and C. A good work6light is recommended. Instructor will provide board, paint and wax to finish.To see the 2012 project click here!
18. Basket Weaving--Zac Reinecker All Levels
All Levels 5 days of weaving from a variety of projects. Students need knife, pencil, scissors, sandpaper., and 5' cloth tape. Students may also need awl, spring hand clamps, block plane, pruning shears, sponge or spray bottle, and 5 quart bucket. To see the 2012 project click here!
19. Tall Santa-- Pat Moore Intermediate-Advanced
Carve this tall version Santa from a roughout blank. This project will be done with hand & palm tools (NO POWER). The size is approximately 3.5”x16” tall. Instructor will go over facial layout, with an emphasis on expressions, and what it takes to turn a basic Santa into a “Jolly” Old St. Nick! Students should have paint brushes, a cut resistant glove, sharp carving knife, basic hand & palm tools such as various sized v-tools, veiners & gouges (such as a 2-3mm V-tool or a 2-3mm #11). To see the 2012 project click here!
20. Songbird Carving Eastern Bluebird--Steve Schumacher Intermediate - Advanced
5 days of carving an Eastern Bluebird. Students need to bring habitat for bird, power grinder, dust collector, woodburner, knife, sandpaper, paint and brushes, ruler, pencils, and light. To see the 2012 project click here!
21. Carvers Chioce – Dave Stetson All Levels
5 days of carving one of Dave or Michele’s roughouts, of your choice. Project will focus on construction and facial expression. Instructor will work with all students who want to learn regardless of experience. Students need to bring Sharp tools, carving glove, and notebook. If student wants to paint their project, they will need to bring brushes, paint, water basin, disposable pallet, boiled linseed oil and paper towels. .
22. High-Five Rodeo Cowboy--Bob Travis All Levels
5 days of carving a 10” rodeo cowboy from blank, with right hand giving high 5 to clown [cowboy figure only]. 4 days of carving / 1 day of painting. Students should bring hand tools, [no power] glove, notebook, and paint brushes. Instructor will furnish cutout, base, color photos, and acrylic paints. If you took the Rodeo Clown in 2011 this will be a project to complete the “high five” set. To see the 2012 project click here!
23. Intaglio Relief - Greg Wirtz All Levels
5 days of Intaglio relief [carving a design beneath the surface of the wood]. Choice of patterns, including Santas, religious, realistic, flowers, etc. Project will be carved on 12'” x 16” ' x 1” board. Students will need hand tools, bench knife, gouges #3, #5, #7, paint and paint brushes. To see the 2012 project click here!
24. Screech Owl Miniature (Half Size)-- -- Norm Wise Intermediate-Advanced
5 days of carving a half-size miniature Screech Owl using IWCA [International Wildfowl Carvers Association] standards for competition.. Two profiles to choose from. Students need to bring power tools (foredom or dremel type), dust collector, hand tools, knife, light, etc. Instructor will provide cutout, paints, brushes, and base material. To see the 2012 project click here!
ONE – A – DAY CLASSES
25. Decorative Gourds---Sara and Larry Cornwell All Levels
5 Individual days of carving and dyeing decorative gourds. Instructors will provide tools and supplies needed. Students should bring lighting. Monday- Native American Teepee Tuesday- Dream Catcher Gourd Wednesday- Native American Drum Thursday –Fall Leaves gourd Friday- Fall Leaves gourd
26. Reed Baskets--Sandy Wirtz All Levels
All Levels 5 individual days of classes. Three days of classes featuring a large market basket, 16” x 9” x 9” high. Other projects to include a patriotic wall or door basket, and Santa’s sleigh. Students need to bring pruning scissors, tape measure, pencil, awl, flat head screw driver, dishpan and spring clothes pins for basket class.To see the 2012 project click here!
