Special Workshops
We run special workshops throughout the year, including: Winter and Summer Holiday Schools, Sculpture in a Day Courses, as well as one off workshops with visiting artists.
If you have any questions or are an Artist and would like to propose a workshop, please contact the Studio.
Sculpture in a Day: Modelling the Figure with Monika Scarrabelotti
Sunday 9 November
10am – 4pm
Fees: $295.30
Bring a friend and book for two or more: $265.30 each
Unleash your inner sculptor in this one-day intensive workshop with Monika Scarrabelotti.
Immerse yourself in the timeless art of figure modelling and learn to capture the human form. Working directly from a life model, you’ll discover techniques to bring your sculpture to life focusing on proportion, anatomy, and gesture. This hands-on class is open to all skill levels, though some art making experience is recommended. Beginners eager to dip their toe into the pool of figurative sculpture will be shown techniques to build up forms in clay and work in the round. Experienced artists can use this workshop to refine their craft, create maquettes, generate ideas and inspiration for new projects.
Monika will guide the class through a series of short poses, encouraging quick, sculptural studies (think life drawing for sculptors!). In the afternoon, the class will settle on a single pose to allow for a longer study of the figure.
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
5 Week Stone Carving with Elena Murgia – Monday EVE
Mondays: 17 November – 15 December (5 weeks)
6pm – 9pm
Fees: $355.30
This brief course will help students undertake the basic techniques of carving. Learn how to remove step by step the material that is surrounding a sculpture, starting from unveiling the basic volumes connected together in harmonious composition and the beginnings of the finishing process where time permits.
Carving is a magical process that pursues the soothing of the soul and detaches ourselves from the modern chaotic life. It’s a way to connect to nature and it informs a sense of space, training the eye and the mind to see in depth!
Alabaster stone will be available to purchase at an additional cost to the course fee. Elena will have a good selection of stones to choose from which are best suited for this 5 week course.
Students are also welcome to bring work in progress stone sculptures, including marble works you may be currently working on. Elena can guide you in the next steps of your stone carvings.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
5 Week Stone Carving with Elena Murgia – Tuesday AM
Tuesdays: 18 November – 16 December (5 weeks)
10am – 2pm
Fees: $435.30
This brief course will help students undertake the basic techniques of carving. Learn how to remove step by step the material that is surrounding a sculpture, starting from unveiling the basic volumes connected together in harmonious composition and the beginnings of the finishing process where time permits.
Carving is a magical process that pursues the soothing of the soul and detaches ourselves from the modern chaotic life. It’s a way to connect to nature and it informs a sense of space, training the eye and the mind to see in depth!
Alabaster stone will be available to purchase at an additional cost to the course fee. Elena will have a good selection of stones to choose from which are best suited for this 5 week course.
Students are also welcome to bring work in progress stone sculptures, including marble works you may be currently working on. Elena can guide you in the next steps of your stone carvings.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Intensive Marble Carving Workshops 2026 with special guest teacher Usama Alnassar – 6 & 8 Day Workshops
5 – 29 January 2026
Fees: 6 Day Workshop: $1,360.30
8 Day Workshop: $1,760.30
Italy returns to Erskineville in January 2026!
You will learn to use traditional hand-tools and techniques for carving, including methods of transferring ideas onto a piece of marble and finding form within the stone. Participants will work directly on the famous White Statuario Marble from Carrara to acquire basic skills and to understand the nature of the material.
Workshop 1 – 6 Day Marble Carving: Mon 5 – Sat 10 January
Workshop 2 – 6 Day Marble Carving: Tue 13 – Sun 18 January
Workshop 3 – 8 Day Marble Carving: Wed 21 – Thu 29 January (rest day on Mon 26th)
Fees include one piece of marble, tuition, use of tools and GST.
About Alnassar: Special Guest teacher Alnassar was born in Syria. He lives and works in Carrara, Italy among the white Michelangelo marble quarries, where he teaches sculpture courses and works on small and monumental sculptures. His works have been shown in individual and group exhibitions internationally. Visit Alnassar’s website here.
Please note, that these Workshops are open to any skill level, but carving marble for 5 or 8 days, will be physically straining and tiring, especially if it is a warm January. Please think about your physical capabilities before booking into a Workshop.
9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Alabaster Carving with Carol Crawford
Sat 18 & Sun 19 July, 2026
A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of alabaster carving and learn from popular guest teacher Carol Crawford.
Carol is a specialist alabaster sculptor who interprets the raw stone to create soft, interlocking organic forms. Carol will be assisted by artist Elena Murgia, who is a specialist stone carver. For this weekend course Carol and Elena will guide you on the use of different hand tools, finishing/ polishing techniques, and how to realise a beautiful soft abstracted form out of the rough stone you have chosen.
Alabaster is a very fine, stable, sometimes translucent stone that can be easily carved. For this workshop you will be working with beautiful white alabaster (translucent and opaque) shipped all the way from Italy.
This workshop will open for enrolments in 2026. If you would like to be notified when bookings open, please email admin@tbsss.org.au
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
