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Wood Carving Class

Learn traditional woodcarving, chip carving and/or whittling for four hours!

Wanda Gillespie

5.0 (4)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

4 hours

1 on 1

$250 (Afterpay available)

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Overview

Reviews

Teacher

What you'll do

Unlock the art of wood carving in a hands-on private class in Melbourne!

In these one-on-one sessions, you’ll learn traditional and contemporary carving techniques at your own pace. Wanda will guide you step by step, from tool handling and safety through to creating your own unique carved piece.

Previous classes have included carving acanthus leaves and ornamental designs in relief, birds, owls, and animals, chip carving patterns on bowls and shaped forms and whittling comfort birds. In Wanda's personal work, she focuses on figurative and portrait sculpture, and she's happy to share this knowledge too.

Whether you’d like to follow a set project or bring your own idea, she'll guide you through every stage of the process. Because carving is a deep skill, there’s only so much that can be covered in a single session, so many students choose ongoing classes to continue developing their skills and ideas over time.

By the end of the class, you’ll leave with confidence using carving tools, a deeper understanding of wood as a material, and a handmade work to treasure.

Note::

Happy to negotiate shorter lessons, small groups, or ongoing regular lessons. Feel free to get in touch.
Kids' lessons may be possible for 12 years and up but may need to be at your home due to insurance requirements at the VWA. Wanda has a current Working with Children Check.
Mobile classes for adults are also possible.

What you'll get

Pieces of timber designed for your project, dependent on prior discussions on your project ideas. Hand out notes on technical and historical aspects, carving tools and where to buy.

Knowledge required

No skills required.

What to bring

Your curiosity!

Suitable for

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 12 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids (the adult may observe for free).

This experience would also be a unique gift for her or gift for mum.

Location

North Melbourne, VIC

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Your teacher can also travel within 15 kms of North Melbourne, to a venue of your choice.

Verified reviews

This is one of our newer classes, but here's what guests say about this teacher's other experiences:

Your teacher

Wanda Gillespie

5.0 (4)

Women-owned

I’m Wanda Gillespie, a contemporary artist, woodcarver, and sculptor based in Naarm/Melbourne. My journey into woodcarving began over 15 years ago after an inspiring artist residency in Indonesia, which sparked my deep connection to this traditional craft. Since then, I’ve been honing my skills and exploring the expressive possibilities of wood.

For the past eight years, I’ve been teaching woodcarving, both privately and in small classes. I’m passionate about sharing this craft with others, especially through chip carving—a great entry point for beginners that only requires one tool, the chip carving knife. I also love teaching more ornamental and figurative carving, whether in relief or in the round, and helping students discover the beauty and versatility of working with wood.

I studied Fine Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts, and I was honoured to receive a fellowship to teach undergraduate students in the Sculpture department. My work has been exhibited in numerous high-profile exhibitions and art prizes, and I regularly hold solo exhibitions. Over the years, my woodcarving has evolved, and I’ve developed a particular focus on portrait and figurative sculptures, which allow me to capture intricate details and emotional depth in the medium of wood.