The Online Mastery Study Program at the Northwest Woodworking Studio
Discover your own talents for furniture design and construction. Join the Online Mastery Study Program and learn the traditions and the skills of design and fine furniture making. Find your singular path to mastery.
The Mastery Program has been a part of The Northwest Woodworking Studio for over 20 years. We now offer this two year part-time program as an Online course. Our next group starts in Fall of 2022. Enrollment is limited to 15 plus two scholarship students.
For two decades the Mastery Program has trained woodworkers to design and build hand-made furniture of the highest quality. Now we will do this Online. We take on all students except raw beginners. Folks do not have to be at or near a mastery level to begin. But the more experience that you bring to the program, the more you will get from it. Self-directed and motivated students will thrive in this curriculum.
Applicants must be able to work to a schedule and on project deadlines while building out of their own shop. They must also have the ability and flexibility to receive their instruction and critiques online. Folks will need a camera in their shop at the bench and a DSL hookup or good Wi-Fi signal in order to participate. The weekly classes will offer real time lectures, videos of special topics as well as ample time for Q&A and one on one talks with the instructor and past Mastery students.
We will start this limited enrollment program again in the fall of 2022. With three terms per year, students will design and build a total of 11 pieces over the course. The goal is to produce great pieces that could sit in any gallery or any room in your home. Projects have been chosen to teach certain methods, techniques, and approaches while at the same time allowing each student room to explore his or her own signature style.
For all prospective students who have read the prospectus and want to apply, please write to Studio@NorthwestWoodworking.com. Please use this link to pay the Application Fee.
Testimony from current students.
Mike L., Ontario, Canada:
Perhaps the three areas I’ve benefited the most are:
– concept to design- visioning skills; modeling; prototypes; the practice of design and then having to build- all have resulted in considerable improvement in my ability to design for aesthetics and build-ability.
– tool skill – while I still need practice I think nothing of doing dovetails or mortises- my chisel work and sharpening practices are 100-fold improved- power tool proficiency is way up
– shop techniques – so much better equipped to set up for cuts, glue-ups and other assembly work – so much better at problem solving, thinking the build process through and optimizing steps. Mike L.
Bob D. Maryland:
Enjoyed the class. Much more than I hoped for. Sorry class is over. Great experience all around. Really worthwhile.
Invest in your education. Invest in yourself.