Workshop

General Description

Carrara marble is renowned all over the world, chosen by Michelangelo and artists for centuries. This course aims to educate participants about the tools, the material, and the culture of marble carving, providing an intensive learning experience using high quality materials in a professional setting. In three weeks, students are shown how to point a bust and move into details, all while working alongside an experienced marble carver. 

Nestled between the Versilia coast in Tuscany and the Apuan Alps, Pietrasanta attracts an international community of artists due to the exceptional quality of its marble and the rich tradition and knowledge that local artists and artisans contribute.

The course instructor, Martin Foot, is an experienced artist, restorer, connoisseur and educator. Martin produces finished work in terracotta and bronze. He enjoys the highest reputation for his work in marble. Born in Liverpool, he has lived and worked in Pietrasanta since 1997. For more information please see the full Bio below.

The course is held in Martin Foot’s studio in Pietrasanta, Tuscany; a professional workshop that can accommodate up to 8 student workstations connected to compressed-air chisels, cutting saws, and drills for the different types of marble. Under the guidance of the instructor and his assistant, students will be shown how to make use of this equipment, as well as learning how to use traditional hand tools.

Participants will work on a piece provided by the instructor from the vast studio cast collection. Alternatively, upon request students may bring their own material to develop during the program; any request must be communicated to the office and faculty for approval before the start of the program.

Additional Info

Medium & Materials

Carrara Marble 

All materials and tools are included and will be ready for use on the first day of class. 

The tuition fee also includes a small selection of materials that students may take home at the end of the workshop, for example hammer, drill, chisels, personal protective equipment etc.

Caution: Some marble carving course materials may pose health risks. Students will receive instruction on safety protocols and the appropriate use of tools and materials during the workshop.

What’s Included

Faculty

Martin Foot perpetuates one of the oldest of the manual and creative crafts which one encounters so rarely in the contemporary artistic profession, the working of stone. Martin Foot has lengthy experience as a carver of stone and marble whose capability enhances the material whether it is a precious marble or a porous sandstone.

His 50 years of experience working in many different styles has led him to be commissioned to replicate sculpture for museums, public works and private collectors. He has worked on many prestigious English buildings such as Windsor Castle, the Houses of Parliament and interiors of private homes. He produces original pieces, portrait statuary and projects by commission.

Born in Liverpool, England in 1958, Martin has lived and worked in many countries. His admiration of people of strong character, good humor and strong work ethic has been shaped by a lifetime of observation and experience that translates directly to his work and is evident in his original pieces.

Martin has lived and worked in Pietrasanta since 1997.

ADDRESS: Via delle Iare 28, Pietrasanta, Italy