Phil Holtan’s Woodturning Workshops for Winter 2024
Phil can help you “Learn to turn,” as he has in his shop for over 40 years.
In 40 years, Phil has taught workshops for over 1600 students. The woodturners who have started or tuned up their skills with me are now some of the finest turners in the region. As time goes on, I will add their stories and gallery photos of their work to my webpage.
These days, I’m concentrating on single-day workshops, either to (1) begin your woodturning or to (2) tune-up your turning and take it to a new level.
In a Beginner’s Workshop Day, you will not only learn basic turning skills but you will make a natural edged bowl which you can take home. You need no prior experience. You’ll learn fundamentals of sharpening, bowl design and execution, safety, correct bevel-rubbing tool use and have a fun experience. I need at least 2 students in the class because I will teach and walk with you every step of the way.
For a Turner’s Tune-up Day, (which you can add immediately after a beginner’s day) I expect you will have some knowledge of turning and a desire to take it a step further. For these intermediate workshops, I can take 1-3 students, and expect you will operate more independently, but with my help and specific instruction as needed and the use of any of my tools, chucks and basic kinds of wood. You can turn bowls, do spindle projects, core multiple bowls, hollow vessels or any other projects you choose in consultation with me. Intermediate and advanced students can bring their tools and chucks so we can work on sharpening and tool shapes. I provide wood for basic projects or you can bring your own. For special woods or burls, there may be an additional charge. At the close of either class, I’ll give you specific feedback and we’ll discuss the next step in your turning and action steps to get there.
Location: All workshops will be held at Phil’s turning shop in Eagan, where each of student has their own 20” lathe, chucks, and set of tools. Noon meal, snacks, tools, chucks and wood are provided.
Workshops $195.00/day: Each workshop requires a deposit of $75, with the balance of $120 payable at the workshop. The deposits are refundable until 30 days before the workshop. If you arrange for and bring a second person to the workshop, or if you come a second day, I will give each of you a $20 discount.
· January 18, 19 and 20 Thursday, Friday and or/Saturday
· February 16, 17 and 18 Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday-
· Other dates as arranged. Please feel free to call me and we’ll work out a time that fits for you. Email me and we will get you on the list.
Registering for a Workshop- When you contact me, please indicate your first, second and third choices for dates and the kind of workshop you choose, beginner or intermediate. Other dates can be arranged that fit your schedule and mine during the summer and fall. Beginner’s workshops require 2 students and Tune-up, 1 or more. Maximum of 3 students per workshop, except by special arrangement.
COVID-19 Update COVID is reduced but not tamed. You may choose to wear a mask for the whole workshop. That’s not much of an inconvenience because we wear dust masks and face masks while we are turning and always have.
Please message Phil at 701-261-6044 or philholtan@msn.com for more information.
Woodturning means making beauty with wood and making joy, justice and community with other people.
Keeping Color Alive in a Boxelder Burl Bowl- “God's Rosemaling”
Boxelder is the humblest of trees, but it has a secret inside, crimson red treasure. Lovely red, but sadly, the color fades quickly in sunlight. I’ve turned many Boxelder burl bowls but always felt uneasy, though I warned people to keep it from ultraviolet light or the color would fade.
I found a new Boxelder burl tree last fall, the best ever in figure and color, and I knew I had to do better with this one… to make that beauty hang on. I searched online but nobody knew how to preserve the color. Then I read a post by Binh Pho, a famous Vietnamese refugee and turner who suggested that you could use an airbrush and transparent pigment to mimic the color tones and shapes of the boxelder.
I took his advice and learned new skills to mix colors and wield an airbrush to follow the design of each bowl’s figure and color. My goal was to duplicate the exact original color and maintain it. I love the result.
As a Scandinavian American woodturner, I call it “God's Rosemaling,” Nature’s rose-painting.
Kransekake, The Lovers’ Ring Tree
Inspired by the Norwegian wedding cake, Phil’s turned Kransekake is a unique tree of rings with rich and ancient symbolism for marriage and loving relationships. Phil turns his specially-designed Kransekake trees, rings and all, from one piece of sugar maple or walnut.
