July 2010 Stonecarving Course

Introduction to Figurative Stonecarving July 5th - 30th, 2010

9Am - 4PM Monday - Friday

Studio della Statua announces its first July Intensive workshop on carving in stone. The four week course teaches various methods of carving in stone, focusing on 'pointing' - the method of copying a sculpture from a plaster cast into stone, using traditional tools.

Students will bring a plaster cast of their choosing - either a commercially available one or one of their own making - and using tools and materials supplied by the Studio, execute a copy in pietra Leccese, a cream-colored, native Italian fine sandstone. Like tufo stone, pietra Leccese is relatively lightweight and easily workable with hand tools. It can even be cut using a hand saw, making it very suitable for the novice stonecarver. Handcarving this sort of material requires only average strength; students of all sizes and genders will get on just fine.

In addition to handcarving and pointing, students will also become acquainted with the methods of enlarging and reducing in stone, various means of finishing, texturing, and polishing stone. A trip to the workshops and quarries of Pietrasanta will also be arranged, and students there will have the opportunity to witness the processes of marble carving, as well as be able to purchase their own tools from the best suppliers if they so wish.

Fee: The fee for the course is 2,000 Euros and includes all materials and use of tools. Students will be required to bring work gloves, a dust mask, hearing protection, safety glasses, and steel-toed work boots or shoes. All of this personal equipment is readily available in Florence.

Location: Studio della Statua, Via Vellutini 7r, Florence.

Application: Space will be limited to just six students. To apply, simply contact Jason. A 300 Euro deposit is required and is due by June 1st, payment in full on the first day of class. Students will also need to have the exact dimensions of the work they wish to copy, along with an image of the work, to Jason by June 1st.