Often referred to as “peasant engraving,” chip carving is a traditional form of surface decoration, used for centuries to embellish everyday wooden objects with intricate geometric patterns.
In this masterclass, Christopher Swartz will introduce the principles of chip carving, demonstrating how a simple knife can be used to remove small chips from the surface of the wood to create clean, repeating designs. The session will cover layout, knife control and pattern development, offering insight into both the technique and its historical roots.
Unlike relief carving, which shapes form and depth, or marquetry, which builds images from veneer, chip carving focuses on pattern and rhythm, creating decoration directly within the surface of solid timber.
Participants will have the opportunity to try the technique under guidance, gaining a practical understanding of how these patterns are formed and how they can be applied to their own work.