Ligurian Experience Week Long Carving Residential in Northern Italy

Description

THE COURSE: A 5 DAY RESIDENTIAL STONE CARVING COURSE IN BORGHETTO D'ARROSCIA, LIGURIA, NORTHERN ITALY. 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. ARRIVE THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE COURSE, LEAVE THE MORNING AFTER THE FINAL DAY OF CARVING. BREAKFAST - 08.30 - 09.30 LUNCH - 12.00 - 13.30 DINNER 18.00 - 20.00 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. ​ ALL CARVING IS DONE BY HAND, WITH SIMPLE TRADITIONAL TOOLS. ​ YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO : -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) YOU CAN ALSO FREE CARVE, IF YOU PREFER A MORE RELAXED AND LESS PRESCRIPTIVE WAY OF WORKING. ​ PROJECT IDEAS : 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: -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) tHESE DESIGNS CAN BE ADAPTED FOR BEGINNERS OR MADE MORE ADVANCED FOR EXPERIENCED CARVERS. 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). I'LL ALSO BE WORKING ON MY OWN SCULPTURE DURING THE WEEK. YOU'RE WELCOME TO WATCH, ASK QUESTIONS , AND SEE HOW MORE ADVANCED CARVING IS DONE. FLEXIBILITY : 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. TOOLS, SAFETY AND MATERIALS : ALL TOOLS ARE PROVIDED ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED CLEAR GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT ​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 CLOTHED. ARRIVING AND SETTLING IN : YOU WILL NEED TWO HALF-DAYS TRAVELLING FROM NICE OR GENOA AND TIME TO SETTLE IN AND UNWIND BEFORE THE COURSE BEGINS. ​ TOM BROWN MASTER CARVER Submit

Cancellation policy

Strict - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 8 weeks before the course starts

Maker

The Ligurian Experience

with Craft Courses since 2017

Message the tutor

The Ligurian Experience is a small, residential stone carving course based in Liguria, northern Italy. Led by Tom Brown, a master stone carver and experienced educator, the course focuses on hands-on learning using traditional tools and techniques, with an emphasis on working carefully and at an unhurried pace. Participants work directly with stone in small groups, allowing for close guidance and time to practise, make mistakes, and develop confidence with the material. Daily carving is balanced with shared meals and time spent enjoying local food, culture, and the surrounding Ligurian landscape, creating a calm and sociable rhythm to the week. The Ligurian Experience was created to share a craft that has given lasting satisfaction to its teacher, and to offer others the chance to learn well, enjoy the process, and work in a place where craft and everyday life remain closely connected.