Just the Tip of the Iceberg !

              Jim Tolpin smiled at me and exclaimed, “Just the Tip of the Iceberg” to describe our excitement as we first began sharing this design language of the artisans. We didn’t even have a name for it then, but we saw first hand how it transformed us and we knew that it could be a game changer for any woodworker brave enough to put down their tape measure.That was seven years ago and we still use the expression when we find a shiny gold nugget hidden in plain sight. Believe it or not, that still happens frequently, even after hundreds of emails, scores of articles, two books and sharing this knowledge with thousands of woodworkers.  

             You’ve also been a big part of this process of discovery and helped spur us along. It began with Jim and I speaking about artisan geometry and you peppered us with great questions and encouraged us to dig deeper. All our work to date resulted from students and readers asking for new ways to learn this timeless approach. Our books, By Hand & Eye and By Hound & Eye were the direct result of conversations with woodworkers about how to make sure this knowledge is preserved and passed along.

          Which brings us to today, and the unveiling of another big chunk of this iceberg. Students asked if there could be a way to experience an extended class, sort of an apprenticeship for design. We are pleased to announce the launching of this website as a design resource and the soon to be released on-line design workshop series called -Tricks and Truths – Geometry of antiquity for artisans of today.

      These on-line design class offerings are an expanded version of the material in our books with plenty of drawing exercises and practical layout techniques at the bench. Our goal is to impart to you a solid design foundation that will ignite and empower you to do your best work. Work that you never dared think you could accomplish. The beauty of this format is you can follow along at your own pace and have the ability to revisit material that’s unclear. You can even look again after you sit up in bed in the middle of the night thinking – Shazaam! Just the Tip of the Iceberg!

George R. Walker