Instructors
2025 dates are July 14-18 in Ellensburg, WA
Registration is Now Open
Welcome to the list of instructors
Here, you will have a moment to learn about who the NW Carving Academy instructors are, their backgrounds and some of the things that have brought them along their path to this place and time to be with you. Each one has a unique background that has formed their knowledgebase, tools and teaching skills. Ask questions, take notes and enjoy...
Click on pictures for an enlarged view.
Pat Moore
Pat Moore is a North Dakota resident who has been carving & painting for over 30 years. She has won several Best of Show Awards and numerous blue ribbons at shows across the country. She has been featured on HGTV along with several articles in Chip Chats, Woodcarving Illustrated and has had the frequent honor of judging at woodcarving shows. As an instructor she travels throughout the U.S. teaching seminars and sharing her techniques.
Ryan Olson
Ryan first became interested in carving when he was very young. When he was only seven, he had his very own pocket knife that he had found in the dirt and kept hidden from his parents. Ryan and the neighbor kids would sit in the shade during long summer days and carve bark that they pried off of the family pine tree. He began carving seriously while he was earning his master’s degree in opera at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Ryan carved on his own for the first five years or so. Ryan has won a number of competitions. He has become known for his innovative, clean style and his ability to capture female subjects in wood. One of Ryan’s greatest joys in woodcarving is participating in the Caricature Carvers of America . He loves meeting with fellow caricature carvers each year at different destinations around the country. He travels the country to teach woodcarving seminars and attend woodcarving shows whenever he can.
Tom Henschied
Tom Henscheid started carving spoons in the early 1970s while studying for a degree in fine art. While working at an art museum he was tasked with creating the displays and installations. This experience led him to start building furniture and small remodeling projects. Within a few years the business had grown into a full-fledged cabinet shop and construction company. During his 45-year career he continued carving spoons. In about 1979 he was taught the skills of making bent carving knives by a friend named Frank Guthrie, a NW native carver. Using simple equipment, they created the knives that transformed his carving. Over the next thirty years he experimented with the blade forms to suit his style of carving. Whenever he could he passed on this knowledge to other carvers. By 2005 he began teaching formal classes and workshops in carving wood turning, furniture building and bent knife making. Tom currently teaches at Pratt fine arts in Seattle, at the Port Townsend school of woodworking, as well as various other venues on the west coast. Some of the many thousands of spoons and bowls he has created over the years have been sold at craft fairs. He's had a few gallery exhibitions, traded for other crafts, and given many away as gifts. He continues carving for the joy of the craft and the fellowship found in the wood carving community
Izo Becic
Izo is an award winning European trained Master Carver. His carving specialty is the restoration and duplication of altars, statues, antique furniture and architectural detail. His technique is Architectural Relief - Mallet & Chisel. All levels welcome! Students may choose from decorative wall designs, mirror frames, shelves, clocks, green men, family initials, Acanthus, Oakley‘s fruit, flowers, and other various projects. Izo will call each student to verify project blank choice & coordinate a design for Students to follow. Tools required are: gouges, mallet and at least two or four clamps for holding the blank. You will be proud of your carving and walk away with knowledge from the Master. Izo will have some tools on hand for students to borrow if needed or buy if interested. Blanks could be in butternut, basswood or black walnut. Blank range is $75 to $ 350, depending on project selected.
Rohn Collins
Rohn Collins lives in Omaha, Nebraska and has been carving wood since 2003. He began teaching seminars in 2021. Rohn is known for his realistic animals, and his painting techniques. His classes focus on anatomy, hair texture, expression and color on each animal. He teaches through group demonstration and individual help in the classes.
Dale Green
I was looking for a hobby, the problem was, I had no idea what to do. One Saturday about 20 years ago, my wife saw a sign advertising wood carving classes at a local store so we stopped in. On a whim, I bought a few tools and registered for a class – quite certain it would be a disaster.
That was the beginning of a passion for wood carving – and tool collecting - that continues to grow. I was determined to learn everything and took advantage of all the local classes and then hit the road to attend classes taught by the most recognized carvers. I tried many styles of carving but it didn't take long to realize that caricature carving was for me. I enjoy creating a humorous scene that tells a funny story. The highest praise I receive is when someone laughs at my carvings.
After a few years I began designing and carving my own caricature figures, some of which have been featured in Wood Carving Illustrated and Carving Magazine. My carvings have won numerous First Place and Best of Division awards, including "Best of Show" at the 2012 and 2014 Caricature Carvers of America competition and Editor's Choice Nominee for Best Design, Wood Carving Illustrated Magazine.
In 2014 I received the honor of being elected as a new member of the Caricature Carvers of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the art of caricature carving. My wife, Kerry, and I live in Holladay, UT with our 2 dogs.
Dale Barrett
Dale’s fusion of realism with design removes his subject from their natural landscapes of the stream to the mystical realm of art. In one brief act of carving tools and paint medium, nature can become strikingly beautiful. This is the passion and dedication in which Dale puts into each of his naturalistic fish sculptures. Dale is a gifted artist, and past director of the National Fish Carvers Guild. He is often sought out by carving clubs from Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, and Canada providing professional instruction., in addition for request to judge at local, National and International carving shows.
Rich Wetherbee
Rich is a caricature carver and sculptor. Rich has spent most of his life in Colorado carving and sculpting. Having had no formal or informal training , he has designed thousands of pieces both commercially and one of a kind sculptures out of many mediums including wood, clay, stone, punkins, squash,taters....etc. Rich is splitting his time up now between designing originals and teaching his techniques to up and coming sculptors and carvers. His passion for concept, design,movement and detail , is at its least, an inspiration to all he comes in contact with. Rich is a founding member of the CCA.
Dick Wilk
I started carving in the Mid-60's. I started because I was fascinated with the collection of Northwest Coast Native Art I saw at the 61 World's Fair. That led to prowling about through the Burke Museum on the UDub Campus.
I also found a Shop near Pike Place Market that sold the Art. Alas it was too expensive for me to afford. I kind of laugh now at how inexpensive the items really were compared to good works today.
Gradually I moved on to the idea of trying to do it myself. I bought all the books I could on the Art and studied. Whenever an Art show featuring NW Coast Art showed up in the Seattle, Vancouver, or Portland, I was there.
The Carving community at that time was relatively small, so I got to know people with similar interests: Duane Pasco, Steve Brown, and Joe David. You couldn't find better people to learn from, and then there was always my idol Bill Holm.
I started out with regular carving tools, but soon came to realize that I had to have crooked knives and Adzes to do it like they did years ago. There weren't any sources at that time so I had to learn how to make my own versions. Over the years I took up Kayaking so I could get to the places where this great Art was created. Relatively recently I've had the great opportunity to help on the poles created by Dale Faulstich for the Jamestown S'klallam in Sequim at the Seven Cedars casino and surrounding Tribal buildings.
I've also done several masks and other Paraphernalia for Native friends in the Campbell River area.
I love the Art and culture and I try to do my best to honor the legacy of tradition and art of the past.
Jeff Gibson
