THIS WEEK IS ALL ABOUT LEARNING TO CARVE STONE AT A STEADY, ENJOYABLE PACE. WITH GOOD FOOD, GOOD COMPANY AND PLENTY OF TIME TO SWITCH OFF FROM NORMAL LIFE, IN A RELAXED AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

 

YOU WILL HAVE FIVE FULL DAYS OF STONE CARVING TUITION, RUNNING FROM 10AM TO 5PM, GIVING YOU A MAXIMUM OF 35 HOURS DIRECT TEACHING TIME. 

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arrive the afternoon before the course, leave the morning after the final day.

 

BREAKFAST - 08.30 - 09.30

LUNCH - 12.00 - 13.30

DINNER 18.00 - 20.00

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OUTSIDE OF THESE HOURS YOU ARE WELCOME TO CARVE INDEPENDENTLY FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIKE. SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CARVE EARLY AND SOME LATE INTO THE EVENING! 

 

COURSES ARE KEPT SMALL FOR OPTIMUM TUTOR TIME. 

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ALL CARVING IS DONE BY HAND, WITH SIMPLE TRADITIONAL TOOLS.

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YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO :

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• MARK AND SET OUT DESIGNS ON STONE

• NAME AND USE OF ALL MAIN CARVING TOOLS

• WORK CURVES, FLAT SURFACES AND ORGANIC FORMS

• CREATE AND USE TEMPLATES TO WORK PROFILES

• MEASURE ACCURATELY IN THREE DIMENSIONS

• SHARPEN AND MAINTAIN TOOLS

•  CHOOSE STONE AND UNDERSTAND ITS QUALITIES

• SHAPE AN IDEA IN CLAY AND CAST (OPTIONAL)

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YOU CAN ALSO FREE CARVE, IF YOU PREFER A MORE RELAXED AND LESS PRESCRIPTIVE WAY OF WORKING. 

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pROJECT IDEAS :

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YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING YOUR OWN IDEA, OR CHOOSE FROM A RANGE OF SUGGESTED PROJECTS THAT ARE POPULAR, ACHIEVABLE AND GIVE YOU PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.

 

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

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• A GREEN MAN

• A GOTHIC OAK LEAF

• A TUDOR ROSE

• A LIONS FACE OR MASK

• AN ORNAMENTAL FOLIATE CARVING

• SIMPLE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS (SCROLLS, ROSETTES ETC)

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tHESE DESIGNS CAN BE ADAPTED FOR BEGINNERS OR MADE MORE ADVANCED FOR EXPERIENCED CARVERS.

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IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PROJECT IN MIND, WE CAN HAVE A CHAT ABOUT WHETHER IT IS WORKABLE IN THE TIMEFRAME.  THE ONLY LIMITS ARE TIME, SIZE (YOU NEED TO TRANSPORT IT HOME) AND MATERIAL (LIMESTONE IS INCLUDED; MARBLE OR OTHER STONES MUST BE PURCHASED BY THE STUDENT, BUT I WILL HELP WITH SOURCING).

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I'LL ALSO BE WORKING ON MY OWN SCULPTURE DURING THE WEEK. YOU'RE WELCOME TO WATCH, ASK QUSTIONS, AND SEE HOW MORE ADVANCED CARVING IS DONE.

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FLEXIBILITY :

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THE COURSE CAN BE AS STRUCTURED OR AS LOOSE AS YOU WANT.  SOME STUDENTS WORK TOWARD DETAILED, FINISHED PIECES; OTHERS CARVE FOR THE ENJOYMENT AND THE CALMNESS IT BRINGS. BOTH APPROACHES - AND ANY OTHER - ARE WELCOME.

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TOOLS, SAFETY AND MATERIALS :

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• ALL TOOLS ARE PROVIDED

• ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED

• CLEAR GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT

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​IF YOU AREN'T USED TO WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS, BRING FINGERLESS GLOVES TO AVOID BLISTERS AND SORE HANDS.

I ADVISE STurDY BOOTS TO PROTECT TOES FROM FALLING STONE, other than that you just need comfortable clothes.

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ARRIVING AND SETTLING IN :

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YOU WILL NEED TWO HALF-DAYS TRAVELLING FROM NICE OR GENOA AND TIME TO SETTLE IN AND UNWIND BEFORE THE COURSE BEGINS. 

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TOM BROWN

MASTER CARVER

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