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Intermediate Blacksmithing: Basics of Forging Animal Heads with Darryl Nelson May 31

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This class will cover tools and techniques used to forge/sculpt 2 and 3 dimensional animal head finials, ideal for terminating a wide variety of products. All tools and materials will be provided however, students are encouraged to bring their personal hammer and tongs applicable to class. Material sizes will be
1/4”x1”, 3/8”x1” and 5/8”sq.
Class Time is 6 hours from 9 am to 4 pm with a break for lunch between 12 and 1pm. There are restaurants nearby or you can bring your own. 
 PLEASE NOTE: Darryl is giving 2 classes this weekend. If you would like to take both classes, we are offering a discount; both classes for $500. Please email us at info@cascadiaart.org with the subject line “Darryl Nelson class bundle” 

What to wear/safety equipment :

-Cotton pants and long sleeved shirt (synthetics are potentially flammable).

-Leather or canvas shoes/boots. (NO open toed sandals/shoes-tennis shoes are not recommended for safety). Make sure your pants fit over the tops of your boots so nothing hot can fall in.

-Safety glasses, ear plugs, and a dust mask. Long hair must be tied back.

-Leather gloves to protect your hands and a notebook to take notes.

-Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and snacks if you want.

PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLASS IS SCHEDULED SO EVERYONE CAN GET SET UP.

 

SELECT NUMBER OF TICKETS NEEDED THEN “GET TICKETS” 

Intermediate – Creating Metal Art in a Functional form with Anton Yakushev August 23 & 24th

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Class description:
Sculptural forms that can be adapted to functional works. Students will be able to focus on traditional and nontraditional methods and techniques of joinery and design. We will practice how ancient forging craft of blacksmithing can make a contemporary modern piece of functional art. This is a 2 day class.
Skills and techniques to be covered/taught: 
Hand forging a sculptural piece in the form of an human/fantasy, etc. Tricks of forging about 15 individual pieces, then seeing how they all join together to make a full sculptural piece.
Anton Yakushev bookend

ABOUT the Instructor:

Anton Yakushev, is a sculptor and artist blacksmith who creates one-of-a-kind hand forged in fire sculptures.  Every artwork consists of more than 50 details each forged separately and has a special and unique meaning. My artistic device is experiment and improvisation, in fact, I do not use
one-size-fits-all techniques. The key message of his artwork is humanism, love, and compassion for humanity. Anton realized he was destined to turn ideas into metal when at the age of 16 he started working as a blacksmith. Now an award-winning sculptor, his artworks have been exhibited nationally, as well as in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and the United States. He is a nationally and internationally distinguished artist, whose works
are in permanent collections all around the world, including National Museums and Parks in the USA. He loves to create independent and isolated worlds for his heroes which are dreams, cloudland cities, and otherworld realities. To see more of his work, go to his website .

What to wear/safety equipment :

-Cotton pants and long sleeved shirt (synthetics are potentially flammable).

-Leather boots (NO open toed sandals/shoes-tennis shoes are not recommended for safety). Make sure your pants fit over the tops of your boots so nothing hot can fall in.

-Safety glasses and ear plugs. Long hair must be tied back.

-Leather gloves to protect your hands and a notebook to take notes.

-Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and snacks if you want.

PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLASS IS SCHEDULED SO EVERYONE CAN GET SET UP.

SELECT NUMBER OF TICKETS NEEDED THEN “GET TICKETS” 

 

Beginner Blacksmithing: 3d Sculpture – Art Decor Piece with Anton Yakushev July 19th & 20th

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Class description:
Sculptural forms. Students will be able to focus on traditional and nontraditional methods and techniques of joinery and design. We will practice how ancient forging craft of blacksmithing can make a contemporary modern piece of art.
Skills and techniques to be covered/taught: 
Hand forging a sculptural piece in the form of a flower. Tricks of forging about 10 individual pieces, then seeing how they all join together to make a full sculptural piece.
CLASS TIME: class is 9am to 3pm each day with breaks for lunch or as needed.
ABOUT the Instructor:
Anton Yakushev, is a sculptor and artist blacksmith who creates one-of-a-kind hand forged in fire sculptures.  Every artwork consists of more than 50 details each forged separately and has a special and unique meaning. My artistic device is experiment and improvisation, in fact, I do not use
one-size-fits-all techniques. The key message of his artwork is humanism, love, and compassion for humanity. Anton realized he was destined to turn ideas into metal when at the age of 16 he started working as a blacksmith. Now an award-winning sculptor, his artworks have been exhibited nationally, as well as in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and the United States. He is a nationally and internationally distinguished artist, whose works
are in permanent collections all around the world, including National Museums and Parks in the USA. He loves to create independent and isolated worlds for his heroes which are dreams, cloudland cities, and otherworld realities. To see more of his work, go to his website .

What to wear/safety equipment :

-Cotton pants and long sleeved shirt (synthetics are potentially flammable).

-Leather boots (NO open toed sandals/shoes-tennis shoes are not recommended for safety). Make sure your pants fit over the tops of your boots so nothing hot can fall in.

-Safety glasses and ear plugs. Long hair must be tied back.

-Leather gloves to protect your hands and a notebook to take notes.

-Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and snacks if you want.

-If you have a favorite hammer and/tongs, bring them if you prefer to work with your own tools.

PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLASS IS SCHEDULED SO EVERYONE CAN GET SET UP.

SELECT NUMBER OF TICKETS NEEDED THEN “GET TICKETS” 

 

Beginner Bladesmithing with Joe Vachon: Forging Knives to Shape-September 21, 2025 9am-1pm

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***PLEASE NOTE: Ticket sales will close on September 15th. If you miss the deadline, email us at blacksmithing@cascadiaart.org and we will see if we can fit you in***

Forge your own knife with simple tools with Joe Vachon (joetheblacksmith.com), a self-employed blacksmith and bladesmith since 2007, and Season 6, Episode 27, Forged in Fire Champion, in this 1 day, hands-on course.

In this class we will be exploring the rudimentary hammer techniques used, step by step, to forge a knife blade to shape from scrap steels with very little use of a grinder. This class is centered around the clever techniques of ancient smiths melded with the minimal help of modern tools. Research the “Neo-Tribal Bladesmithing” movement and “Tai Goo” for more info on this philosophy and methodology.

You can expect to learn how to forge a point on the end of a bar, flatten your blade to its final thickness with a distal taper, create a counter-bend, forge your bevels, shape an all-steel handle, clean up your work with a file and/or small grinder, heat treat by eye, and sharpen on a stone.

We will start by using mild steel for a practice knife, then move up to high carbon steel to help your progression as a novice smith. We will also inevitably be discussing and demonstrating what goes into proper heat treating and learn about various types of blade geometry and their applications.

What to wear/safety equipment :

-Cotton pants and long sleeved shirt (synthetics are potentially flammable).

-Leather boots (NO open toed sandals/shoes-tennis shoes are not recommended for safety). Make sure your pants fit over the tops of your boots so nothing hot can fall in.

-Safety glasses, ear plugs, and a dust mask. Long hair must be tied back.

-Leather gloves to protect your hands and a notebook to take notes.

-Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and snacks if you want.

PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE 5 MINUTES BEFORE CLASS IS SCHEDULED SO EVERYONE CAN GET SET UP.

 

SELECT NUMBER OF TICKETS NEEDED THEN “GET TICKETS” 

Blacksmith Demonstration

Darryl Nelson, third generation resident Blacksmith for Timberline Lodge, demonstrates and talks about his art.

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