Carve Your Own Santa with Mark Bair

Carve Your Own Santa with Woodcarver Mark Bair
Saturday November 8, 2025  from 10am-4pm
Guild Gallery & Art Center, 24353 Redwood Hwy. Kerby, OR 97531
$60-$80 sliding scale, includes ALL materials!

Holiday season is approaching--are you looking to try your hand at making your own unqiue decorations and gifts? Come create a Christmas heirloom-your very own wooden Santa to be enjoyed for generations to come! Join instructor and seasoned artist Mark Bair on Saturday November 8 from 10am-4pm at the Guild Gallery & Art Center as he helps you find your courage and trust with the woodcarving process. With his detailed instruction and hands-on assistance, you'll feel confident enough to start and finish a small woodcarving on your own using the skills you learn in class. You'll walk away with a finished and painted "old world" Santa figure, along with knowledge of basic carving techniques and wood selection!

"What a great teacher Mark is! I am not an artist, and he was so kind and helpful with a beginner. Some of the other people did really amazing pieces. I had never done that before; I was way out of my comfort zone! I’m really happy that I did this in such a supportive environment..." -Deborah Murphy, Blockprinting Student 

Class is for ages 18+ and all skill levels are welcome--no prior carving experience is required. Class fees are sliding scale $60-$80 and includes ALL materials. When you register, please honestly self-select your contribution. Choose a tier that supports you to commit. By paying at the highest level you help subsidize others and offer scholarships to support a wider range of people. If the sliding scale would be a hardship and you’d like to request a scholarship, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at (541)-592-5019.

ABOUT MARK BAIR: From a young age, Mark Bair was immersed in creativity, growing up in a household shaped by the artistic influence of his grandmother and mother—both talented artists, artisans, and accomplished cooks and bakers. Surrounded by tools, materials, and the spirit of craftsmanship, Mark developed an early appreciation for the world of art and making.

Like many artists, he has explored a wide range of mediums, including paper, paint, clay, and eventually wood. In the late 90s, Mark began studying wooden boat building, which sparked a deeper interest in woodcarving—a medium that has captivated his attention ever since. Alongside his carving work, he continues to keep several sketchbooks active and always has his watercolors nearby. Although much of his work is created in solitude, Mark finds great joy in teaching his craft. Sharing techniques and ideas with like-minded individuals is a fulfilling and energizing part of his artistic life.

By 2019, Mark had built a successful art business spanning two decades. He taught workshops, exhibited in galleries, and traveled the east coast craft circuit. His work is held in permanent museum collections and has been collected around the world. In response to the pandemic in 2020, Mark closed his studio and embraced life as a full-time RVer, splitting his time between the Illinois Valley in the spring and summer, the Oregon Coast in the fall, and the Mojave Desert during the winter months. Today, he maintains a small studio in Southern Oregon and continues to create wherever he travels, always finding space for art in his ever-changing surroundings.