Course Description
Instructor: Karen C. Zukas
Format: 2 1/2 hour workshop
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 1:00 to 3:00
Location: 127 W. Rodney French Blvd. NB
Fee: $55.00 ALL materials included ! 2 practice pieces, one Bone Substrate, ink, scribe usage, tools, images, oils, etc.
Scrimshaw - A Beginners hands on experience
We live in the land of Scrimshaw ! What a better place to learn the skill ! It is an historical art form of scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory. In this workshop, we will learn the basic application of pin carved scrimshaw on bone (most scrimshaw beginners work with cow bone, as it is relatively inexpensive to work with, and legal to use.) The process is not difficult, however a confidence in drawing is helpful...We will begin by doing a simple piece on small polymer ovals to practice. When we've gained confidence, we will begin a traditional piece, using designs provided for you to transfer onto your bone or if you have your own designs, please feel free to bring them 1"x3". You will have a piece of cow bone to use. You may also bring in your own bone if you have it and would prefer. Typically scrimshaw refers to the etched artwork created by whalers, engraved on the by-products of whales, such as bones or cartilage. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. It is most prominent in New Bedford, Nantucket and Alaska where whaling was the most congregated.