2012 WORKSHOPS - ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!

This intensive, five day workshop is designed to introduce the studio artist to a wide variety of methods used to form concrete.  Hands-on projects will result in three take home pieces, each using different forming techniques and mixes. Projects include using carved polystyrene foam with glass scrim and polymer fortified concrete, metal armatures (no welding) and simple casting. Surface treatments and methods of coloring concrete will be presented with time for hands-on experimentation.  Mosaics for sculptural forms will be presented but there will not be time to mosaic in this workshop.

Programs by a visiting artist and Hunter provide additional information on techniques, public art, and inspiration.  Participants are asked to bring images to share and ideas to discuss.

The instructional information provided in this workshop will be useful to any artist interested in exploring concrete as a sculptural material or in combination with their chosen medium.

Learn how Hunter creates the large concrete forms that are the base for her mosaic sculptures.  You will start by learning carving techniques in polystyrene foam and then the application of polymer fortified concrete combined with AR fiber glass mesh.  This system results in a relatively light weight sculptural process for exterior and interior artworks. Once completed, the piece can be used as a base to mosaic or finished with a variety of surface treatments.

Whether you are sculpting in clay, plaster, concrete or some other media, many forms need some type of inner structure to help them stand rigid -  a skeleton/an armature.  Different construction methods will be demonstrated to address the needs of sculptures in different scale and media.  Wire, rebar, metal meshes, and foam will be some of the basic materials utilized.  The The focus will be on mastering basic wiring techniques.  Welding will be part of the discussion but not taught in this class.  Installing sculptures for interior and exterior display will also be addressed.

We will go through the process of designing and building the appropriate armature structure for your sculpture. Maximum size: About the size of a Labrador dog and/or what you can transport or ship home.

Field trips to a metal fabrication shop and metal scrap your are included in the program.

Faux Bois, or "false wood", is an old and very nearly lost art form in which three-dimensional sculptural representations of wood or wooden objects are created employing a steel and stucco lath armature which is then coated with cement-based media. Sculpting and tooling of the final cement layer creates the illusion of wood grain and bark textures. The level of detail possible is determined by the formulation of the final finish layer. Two very different media are addressed in these classes.  One is consistent with the more common school of French Faux Bois and the other unique to the style, detail and finish consistent with El Trabajo Rustico, the branch of this art form made famous by Dionicio Rodriguez. 

The five-day "Introduction" course will provide the basic skills, techniques and information necessary for the creation of forms both decorative and functional. This class includes design and engineering (building an armature), formulating, mixing, applying and sculpting. Finishing options and coloring techniques will also be covered. Each student will construct a project of his or her own design utilizing a fine sanded mortar finish.  What I refer to as a “French Finish”. 

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This intensive three day "Advanced Sculpting" class deals only with the use of the unique neat Portland paste finishing formulations that distinguish the more highly detailed works associated with El Trabajo Rustico.  This mixture is very demanding and even considered “impossible” to employ by many experts, but when mastered, can yield a level of detail comparable to most sculpting clays.  Since none of the basic construction considerations are covered during this class, students should possess a fundamental familiarity with armature development and sculpting as well as a working knowledge of basic cement formulating and mixing to get the most from this course

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NOTE: THERE IS A $100 DISCOUNT IF YOU SIGN UP FOR BOTH FAUX BOIS WORKSHOPS.

SHERRI WARNER HUNTER has concentrated on creating large scale public sculptures since moving to Bell Buckle, TN in 1994.  Her work is included in numerous publications and private collections, and can be viewed publicly at The Nashville International Airport, the children’s courtyard of the Memphis/ Shelby County Public Library, TN; and TigerTown shopping complex in Opelika, AL.

Hunter is the author of “Making Concrete Garden Ornaments” and “Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden.” 

DONALD TUCKER has been a working artist for over 50 years.  He was trained as a commercial illustrator and had a long and highly successful career in advertising. He left that field to become a full-time studio artist. As a sculptor, he specializes in creating large-scale works in Ferrocement employing the techniques and traditions of Faux Bois and El Trabajo Rustico. Tucker is considered one of the world's leading authorities on these esoteric subjects and demonstrates his commitment to their continuance by teaching workshops nationwide. To learn more about the artist visit these sites: 

http://fauxboisinconcrete.blogspot.com and www.thegardenartforum.com

Yes, this is concrete!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

 - A 50% deposit is required to secure your place in a workshop.  The balance is due on or before the first meeting.

 - You will be sent a confirmation form once the workshop has enough registrations to be held.  Your deposit will not be cashed until that time.

 - Make checks payable to:   SWH Art Studio Inc.

 - There is a $50 cancellation fee.

 - Dates are subject to change.

 - If a workshop has filled at the time your registration is received, your check will not be cashed.  You will be notified and given the opportunity to be placed on the waiting list.  If a place opens, people on the waiting list will be notified in the order they were received.

- Workshops that do not meet minimum enrollment may be canceled. 

-  If you would like to bring someone to work with you on your project, a ‘Creative Partner’, add $50.  This option is ONLY available for the following workshops: Concrete Forms,

Printable Registration Form

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