Summer 2026
September 19-20

Class size: 12
Cost: $450
Materials: $45

Within a two-day workshop, participants will learn how to make brushes for a wide variety of uses. Each day will focus on a specific approach to brushmaking, with the first day focused on function-driven design, and the second day focused on adaptive re-use of found materials. 

The workshop begins with a short presentation on the uses and applications of brushes around the world, which includes a discussion of various sweeping fibers, handle materials, etc. The idea is to capture the breadth of functions and roles that a brush can play in daily life.

Each participant will be asked to identify a specific sweeping task/function, and then, through sketching on paper and on wood, develop a design for a brush suited to that function.

At the end of day one, participants will have an understanding of each step in the brushmaking process, and at least one completed brush, designed for a specific function.

While day one is about using a function to determine a form, day two will let the wood lead: allowing its form to determine a function. The materials for this day will have more variability: driftwood, greenwood, unique offcuts, etc., which will hopefully guide participants into new designs.

The focus on the second day will be more exploratory: using found objects and minimal tools to create an equally beautiful brush. These two days will also allow us to compare/contrast different design processes, techniques, and tools.

Tools

Required

No specific tools required, but if you have any hand tools you like working with, feel free to bring them along.

Recommend

• Notebook and writing implements 

• Preferred PPE 

Prerequisites

Open to all.

Class Information and Registration

Classes run 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday in Building 304 at Fort Worden. Map. Read our What to Expect page for general information about the school and our course Registration Policy. We highly encourage you to sign up for the waitlist if the course is full.