Greenwood Chair Construction
Outline of the Course Aims
The use of fresh wood for furniture making can be learned from Alison Ospina at Rossnagoose on the Ilen River by Roaringwater Bay. A professional furniture maker, Alison came to teaching after her work came into public notice through the media. Now her individual pieces are sought after by galleries nationwide. A full-sized jointed chair from locally coppiced hazel is the end product, even for beginners. Basic techniques of wood preparation: cleaving, lathe turning and planing then construction techniques such as drilling simple mortise and tenon joints will all be covered. The wood, which has a great heritage in Celtic folklore, is finished with oil and beeswax.
Instruction takes the form of demonstration, hands-on and one to one monitoring. Currently there are small groups but a new workshop is being built. But even with a larger group the mixed skill levels will be no problem because each student goes at their own pace. Alison prepares the components using greenwood hazel - a 'very forgiving' material and she then lets the student design the final form themselves so each chair is unique.
A former student, Mike Prankerd of Swansea experienced 'the back to basics ethos in the welcoming atmosphere and rural environment of Alison's workshop studio near Skibbereen' He writes: "The course showed me a side to woodworking which was new and refreshing. To design and make largely 'by eye' and by letting the ideas flow is a relaxed situation was a revelation....I still keep in touch with her and exchange information on greenwood chair and tools as I now make chairs myself for friends and family".
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