MAKE & TAKE - SAWHORSES USING STEREOTOMY Dec 1-5, 2025

OVERVIEW:

Sawhorses are not only a useful / necessary tool to have at your home or professional shop, they are also a fantastic vehicle for learning about compound geometry and stereotomy. In this course, each student will begin by utilizing their own handmade stereotomy drawing to create a pair of splay-legged sawhorses, without the use of numeric math. We will go on to explore variations of the form as well as more elaborate decorative features, based on the interests of the class. Students may choose to make more than one set of horses, or add more details to their first set. Some students may be familiar with the intricate treteaux produced by French Compagnon carpenters - we will learn a few tricks for those eye-catching details that are made possible with the use of stereotomy.

Students will have the option of making full-size sawhorses for shop use, or a scaled down version for those without space at home or traveling from far away.

Stereotomy is an ancient 2D hand-drawing technique that uses lines, projection, and proportion to compute complex geometry in 3D, without the use of numeric computation. It has been used to create some of the world's finest historic architecture including gothic cathedrals in France, and Buddhist temples in Japan. The material learned in this class is directly applicable to hip and valley roof framing and splay-legged furniture. Ariel is a Fellow of the School of Practical Stereotomy, founded by Patrick Moore.

SCHEDULE:

Monday 9:00am- 5:00pm

Tuesday-Saturday 8:30 am- 4:30 pm

INSTRUCTOR :

Ariel Schecter (see INSTRUCTORS page to view instructor bios).