Welcome to The Eco Works

PYROGRAPHY
20th May 10.30am - 5.30pm
Your Tutor: Rene Antonelli

Rene is a local craftsman who was born in Italy and moved to Peterborough as a small boy. He soon found out that he had a natural ability for carpentry and has been based at Thorpe Hall where he has had a Craft Centre for 20 years. Rene is involved in many community-based projects and regularly puts on demonstrations in and around Peterborough. He believes it is very important for the environment to use wood from sustainable sources.

Pyrography is the art or technique of creating designs on wood using red hot tools to burn designs into polished wood. It is also called poker work.

This taster session, using local materials produced at Rene’s Eco-works at Thorpe Hall, will lead you through the suitability and preparation of raw materials and the techniques involved in transferring designs and the process of working directly onto the wood and the variety of finishes and fixings and methods of display. Special effects using particular grain patterns or fungal discolorations and paints will be demonstrated and discussed. This course is especially suited to those who have a love for trees and enjoy drawing.

Cost £45 + materials £3- 10

WHITTLING
23 June 10.30am - 5.30pm
Your Tutor: Rene Antonelli

Whittling is the art of carving out of wood, usually something small enough to hold in the hand. This workshop is designed and led as an introduction to the methods and techniques of whittling, from the initial selection and preparation of the raw materials, through the
preparation of the timber blank and transfer of designs to the hands-on carving, mostly using small, short-bladed knives and onto the finishing and polishing processes. Fresh wood is softer “green” and shrinks on drying, delaying finishing whereas dry wood is tougher to work, but is able to take a polish sooner.

Ideally, materials should be gathered from your local environment, but suitable materials can be found at Flag Fen. Useful varieties include walnut, fruitwoods, oak, ash, yew, laburnum, box, briar rose and hazel. You may bring your own designs or follow exhibited examples.

Cost - £45 + materials £3- 10

WEAVING SMALL WILLOW ARTEFACTS
24th June 10.30am - 5.30pm

Your Tutor: Rene Antonelli

A taster session using materials from Rene’s Eco-Art allotments, designed to provide a gradual introduction to the practices of this ancient craft using a range of willow varieties as well as the philosophy and techniques of willow cultivation. Cuttings will be available.

Willow is used principally, but dogwood or privet may be substituted should you have some suitably slender stems in your garden or locality. Please bring along some good secateurs.

Cost £45

RUSTIC FURNITURE MAKING
19th August 10.30am - 5.30pm
Your Tutor: Renny Antonelli

If you’re feeling creative, join local eco-artist Rene Antonelli and learn the traditional techniques and skills involved in making your own personal rustic furniture made of rough wood, (especially branches with the bark left on them) as seen at Flag Fen. Learners will be encouraged to be self sufficient and gather interesting raw materials from their own locale, but materials and sundries will be available at Flag Fen at an additional charge.

You are encouraged to bring any equipment and tools you may already have and Rene will assist you in sharpening etc. Stout footwear and appropriate clothing is required.

Cost - £45 + materials £10 - 50

BOG OAK CARVING
3rd - 4th November (2 day workshop) 10.30am - 5.30pm
Your Tutor: Rene Antonelli

At the end of the last Ice age approximately 10,000 years ago, the land was colonized by wetland trees such as willow, birch and alder.
Subsequently these provided a habitat for the dominant species which developed into close growing forests of English oak. Later still as the climate changed and sea levels rose, the lowland forests flooded and were eventually buried by the acidic peat bogs.

These ancient trees have never perished because of their anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions. Those of you familiar with Flag Fen will recognize the broad similarity with the wood found here and Bog-Oak. Rene will teach you how to work with this fascinating material and will assist you in creating a very personal sculpture for home or garden.

You will see examples of Bog-Oak sculptures to help decide what you would like to make. Rene will demonstrate the techniques needed to perform this ancient craft, including selection, cleaning, sculpturing, sanding, safety equipment, firing and brushing.

By its very nature Bog-Oak is a material that will require you to wear stout footwear, gloves and robust clothing. Goggles and masks are available in the workshop, as are the tools required, although you are welcome to bring carving chisels, wire brushes, paint scrapers etc. We welcome beginners as well as experienced woodworkers.

Cost - £85 + materials £10 - 50