A few words and pictures on the Carv…
I wish I’d decided to do a frog instead of an abstract …
I wish I’d done an abstract instead of a frog …
I wish I could see what I need to do next …
I wish this surface would meet this edge …
I wish …
As the challenges mounted, these were the pleas of the sculptors doing the 4 day carving workshop during the winter break at the TBSSS.
Paul Hopmeier was the tireless and inspiring teacher of carving who kept us all going, helped us over the hurdles and inspired us to greater things. Those doing animals were encouraged to look beyond the anatomical and to consider the sculptural aspects of rhythm, movement and energy in the piece. Notably, these same sculptural elements were also essential to the abstract pieces.
Several of the 10 participants chose an animal and the others chose subject matter they had either designed themselves, were based on classical pieces or which were discovered independently.
Our first task was to make a small clay model of the piece we had decided to do. The next step was to mark out the corresponding dimensions on the limestone (or, in one case, the sandstone) block and to saw the block into the appropriate size. Further sawing followed as unnecessary material was removed from the block. Then the real drawing began as the sound of the mallet on chisel echoed through the studio.
Angst gave way to elation as ‘block memory’ faded and the intention of the budding sculptor took form and became visible. At this point, Paul encouraged us to discard the clay model and give all our attention to the carving.
Tea breaks became a ‘compulsory’ ritual to give the teacher and students a break, both to share chocolate biscuits, exchange sculpture wisdom and to solve the problems of the world.
The feeling of community was strong such that at the end of each day everyone pitched in and cleaned up the seemingly endless piles of stone chips and dust, leaving the studio largely clean and orderly.
Inevitably, it still showed a fine patina of dust as a reminder of the high level of creativity recently occurring there. It then only remained to get home to shower from top to toe so that we could face the world again sans a covering of fine, white dust.
The final carved pieces form an interesting and engaging display in the TBSSS Exhibition space, where they will remain for public display for about 6 weeks.
Our thanks to TBSSS for making the studio and the learning opportunity available to us. And to the esteemed Paul Hopmeier, who gave so generously of his knowledge and experience to help us along the path to understanding more of the mysteries of carving in stone.
Written by an anonymous student, July 2011.