Welcome to
The ART of WOODCARVING!
with CECILY BISHOP, Master Carver
TRADITIONAL HAND TOOL LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS AND EXPERIENCED CARVERS
TOOLS PROVIDED IN CLASS
You'll learn all the technical skills you’ll need to carve just about any thing you’d like, over time. The intro course will focus on tool & wood selection, carving techniques, Form Line design and how to carve and paint a relief carved panel with cool designs to choose from. You’ll learn skills that will help you move onto your choice of three dimensional carving. If you’re an experienced carver, you’ll get additional support and skills to help you to go beyond your comfort level. I have many projects and patterns that are fun to carve.
Morning and Evening Classes available
MORNING CLASSES
10am to 1pm
Monday thru Thursday
EVENING CLASSES
6pm to 9pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
CLASS QUARTERLY FEE
Only $295. per 8 week Quarter.
You come once a week for 3 hours on the day or evening you choose. Make-up seats are available when students let me know they cannot make a specific class in advance, other students are able to make up lost classes during the quarter.
If you'd like to PAY AS YOU GO, it's $45. a class, no exceptions. Depends on space available during the week.
Make-up classes are also available
during the quarter as well.
Class Schedule
FALL WOODCARVING QUARTER
This New Year reminds us how important it is to take time
for yourself and tap into the calming nature and the beauty of just letting your soul be creative!
The First Wood Carving Quarter of 2025
starts the week of January 27th thru March 20th.
Seats Go fast.
Call or message me for seat availability soon!
Gift Certificates are also Available!
News & Updates
CHECK OUT UPCOMING CLASSES
RAWHIDE DRUM MAKING CLASSES
ASK about upcoming classes to make and paint any size Native Style Hand Drum and a beater.
Each class is approx. 3 hours a session, for two classes, once a week for 2 weeks, which allows the hide to dry before painting. You can choose to make a 14",16",18" or 20" drum in Deer, Elk, moose or Buffalo Hide. Prices vary. Over 15 designs to choose from to paint your drum, or you can bring your own design.
Classes are limited to 4 people. Open to drum making parties at your location. Contact for current pricing.
RAWHIDE RATTLE MAKING CLASSES
You'll learn how to make traditional Deer Hide Rattles and paint a design on them.
Each class is approx. 3 hours a session, for two classes, once a week for 2 weeks, which allows the hide to dry before painting and finishing. Many designs to choose from, or you can bring your own designs.
Classes are limited to 4 people. Open to rattle making parties at your location. Contact for current pricing.
Sign up is necessary in advance, to make these classes work. let us know if you are interested and we will announce the class dates when they become available. I make attempts to work within your schedule as well.
Cecily Bishop Master Carver
What I'm All About
My love of carving began in 1980 on Guam, where I lived for 25 years and became a student of Master Carver Robert Taitano. I was urged to take a seat on the sand next to some very talented native Palauan Carvers who chewed Beetle nut and spoke little English. So sit I did, for quite a few years in my free time, while they taught me how to carve Micronesian Storyboards. Over the years I’ve studied with Master Carvers from Guam, Micronesia, Ireland and the Pacific Northwest. I spent 15 years with the late Master Carver Jim Ploegman Sr., (the adopted grandson of “Grandma” Beatrice Black, the matriarch of the Quinault Tribe) who taught me what he knew about Northwest Coast Art and how to create and carve “form line” designs. After Jim’s passing, I taught all styles of woodcarving on a full time basis for 7 years at the Masters Carving School in Renton. In 2021, I started my own teaching studio called: “Woodcarving with Cecily Bishop, Master Carver”, in Kent.
My grandmother was Cherokee and my grandfather was Creek Indian. I’m also a direct descendant of “Chief Red Bird”; Tsalagi’ Ugvwiyuhi Totsu’hwa (Moytoy) 1721-1820. He was a proud Cherokee, who was Chief of the Ani Wadi Clan. He was my sixth Grandfather, known to immigrants as Aaron Brock, a recorded treaty signer. The Red Bird River (a tributary of the Red River) in Kentucky is named in honor of him. His father was Chief Willenawah Great Eagle (Moytoy) Reuben Brock 1680-1721. His mother was Adi Wadi Willenawahi, "she who carries the sun", a full blooded Cherokee, known to immigrants as Christian Page Carpenter 1714-1752.
In May of 2016, I was honored to be selected to represent Guam, as a visual arts; “Diaspora Delegate” during the Festival of the Pacific Arts. It was the first time in 30 years that Guam hosted cultural representatives of 27 Pacific Island Nations for a two week long festival of culture and arts, where my work was displayed in the newly built Guam Museum. I was a member of the visual arts staff who set up the artists museum displays for the event.
The current spectrum of my carving work includes Northwest Coast Style masks, paddles, war helmets, rattles, bowls, plaques, as well as contemporary art carvings and Pacific Islander influenced artworks. My designs are exclusively my own, however my NW Coast Style work and teachings are respectfully based on the principles of “NW Coast Formline” from the perspective of artists and historians, Bill Holm and Bill Reid, whose published interpretations are widely supported by first nation’s people in this region.
My goal in creating each piece is to thoroughly enjoy the intimidating process of convincing a piece of wood that it needs to turn into a unique and mystical piece of art, ultimately to be interpreted by the beholder.
Throughout the years, I have won numerous awards for my carvings through nationally recognized wood carving associations and juried shows in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I’ve gone as far as I can go in their carving spectrum, which in their eyes would give me the subjective title of Master Carver. Which just means I’ve found solutions to more mistakes in over 40 years, than most carvers would even think of trying. I’ve learned much in the process, sometimes the hard way. Some of my work is for sale.
I also welcome commission work, should you have something special in mind.
Contact: Cecily Bishop Master Carver
Have questions about WOODCARVING CLASSES
or DRUM AND RATTLE MAKING CLASSES?
OPEN TO COMMISSIONED WORKS OF ART, IF THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU'D LIKE!
Please reach out, class sizes are limited.
Kent, King County 98031
USA
206 948 9189
