Rick Cannon

Zenbellishing Wood

October 26 - 31, 2025

Open to All Skill Levels

Woodturning, Sculpture

Overview

Zenbellishing will give participants options for finishing projects not available in traditional wood working. Traditional wood working: very smooth. Zenbellishing: tactile (perceived by touch). In this Zenbellishing workshop students will use rotary carvers, drills, pyrography, and whatever tool necessary to create a texture on wood surface that feels good to the touch. The workshop will discuss random versus patterning for these textures, and use acrylics to bring texture to light. Students can use treenware from a carving horse, flat work, or work from the lathe. The goal of this workshop is for students to step outside the box of beautiful grain made smooth and shiny. Beginning to advanced students, will take home examples of the process and most any small project desired, and hopefully the desire to create a “grain” that feels good through Zenbellishing when they return to their home shop.

Course Fee : $852.00

Download The Materials List

Scholarships & Material Fees

Need help covering workshop costs? Arrowmont offers financial aid opportunities to broaden access to our arts and craft programs. We believe a diverse community enriches the learning experience for all.

Material fees are not included in our national workshop costs, but are included with the cost of our winter short workshops. A material list with estimated costs will be emailed about 30 days before the national workshop begins.

TUITION & FEES

SCHOLARSHIPS

Cost Breakdown

Registration Fee

$50.00

One Week Workshop Tuition

$852.00

Estimated Cost*
*Fees exclude housing and meal plans

$902.00

VIEW HOUSING & MEAL PLAN COSTS

Artist Bio

Rick Cannon

Rick Cannon is a full time woodworker living in Memphis, TN. He has been an assist instructor at Penland and John C. Campbell, and taken many workshops over the years. Cannon has demonstrated at the SWAT and at wood turning clubs, and was named a “Master Artist” by the Tennessee Arts Commission and Tennessee Craft in 2020. Cannon’s work was featured in the “Best of Tennessee” exhibition four different times. Rick Cannon’s work was celebrated in a solo exhibition in the Jerry Drown Gallery at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in 2024.

Artist Website

Explore the Wood Studio

With a dedicated building to all things wood, the John Jordan Wood Building, it should come as no surprise that our wood workshops have developed a bit of a reputation for being the best of the best. A dedicated woodturning studio, machine room, and woodworking studio offer a wide range of equipment and options for students and instructors alike. From woodturning to furniture making, greenwood appliques to carving, the sky is the limit for what our wood workshops can do.

Explore the Wood Studio