Find restoration through the practice of mastery.
The name "Hand to Heartwood" embodies the connection between hands-on craftsmanship and inner creative restoration. In a culture that increasingly values doing more, less well, slow handcraft classes provide a much-needed environment to recalibrate and rebuild a process-oriented growth mindset through transformative handwork — leaving you with a physical reminder of what patience and focus look like. If constant velocity, shallow competence, and context-switching have started to feel like the default, this is the opposite.
Open Classes
I primarily teach 4-week and 7-week open registration, introductory woodcarving classes at the Indy Art Center. I also have step-by-step woodcarving tutorials and free patterns available for download on my patterns page.
I currently also host soap carving activities for families as a Lechleiter Visiting Artist at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
Private Group Classes
"Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do." — Bob Ross
Project-based carving classes are for deliberate learners and teams looking to anchor their attention in the present moment, practice a skillful challenge, and find joy in the process. Woodcarving projects include comfort birds, folk art whittles, and ornaments.
Soap carving projects are also available as a highly accessible and parallel pathway into subtractive sculpture — no sharp tools required, and open to creators of all experience levels. It's a genuine introduction to the same patient, process-first mindset as woodcarving, just with a gentler material.
Great for
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Corporate team workshops and offsites
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Tech-free nights
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Arts on prescription programs
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Creative aging activities
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Support peer groups
Single 3 hour workshops as well as 4-session classes available for sequential learning. No prior artistic experience required and all levels welcomed. All tools and materials supplied as needed.
Serving the Indianapolis area. For those looking for a host location, our space at the Indiana Artisan Gifts and Gallery Store at 22 N. Rangeline Rd. in Carmel, Indiana can accommodate groups of up to 10.
Reach out on my contact page or email for details.
Class materials are supported through a CERF+ Get Ready Grant for Crafting Wellness for Digital Detox: Taking Care with Woodcarving".
