5 Week Stone Carving with Elena Murgia – Monday EVE (February)
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWMondays: 3 February – 3 March (5 weeks)
Week 1: 5:30pm - 9pm
Week 2, 3, 4, 5: 6pm - 9pm
$330.30 (Earlybird)
$365.30 (General)
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.
Please note that for the first week, please arrive at 5:30pm, this will allow 30 mins of time to browse and choose your piece/s of stone.
About Elena:
Elena Murgia is an Italian born artist. After studying ceramics in London, her sculpting journey started at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School in 2017.
She undertook marble carving classes under the guidance of Usama Alnassar who continues to mentor her. Elena has also been mentored and trained by TBSSS teacher Wendy Black, whom Elena continues to assist on a Wednesday during term time.
Elena participates in national prizes and group exhibitions around the country and had her first solo exhibition in December 2023 at the Clara Street Gallery showcasing works in marble, alabaster, bronze and porcelain.
Through her sculpture she explores the dichotomy between quality and image, inner beauty and the masks we wear to conform to the world, responding to both feminine and the feminist, her past and her present.
*Early bird discount ends midnight 20 January.
5 Week Stone Carving with Elena Murgia – Tuesday AM (February)
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWTuesdays: 4 February – 4 March (5 weeks)
Week 1: 9:30am - 2pm
Week 2, 3, 4, 5: 10am - 2pm
$380.30 (Earlybird)
$415.30 (General)
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.
Please note that for the first week, please arrive at 9:30am, this will allow 30 mins of time to browse and choose your piece/s of stone.
About Elena:
Elena Murgia is an Italian born artist. After studying ceramics in London, her sculpting journey started at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School in 2017.
She undertook marble carving classes under the guidance of Usama Alnassar who continues to mentor her. Elena has also been mentored and trained by TBSSS teacher Wendy Black, whom Elena continues to assist on a Wednesday during term time.
Elena participates in national prizes and group exhibitions around the country and had her first solo exhibition in December 2023 at the Clara Street Gallery showcasing works in marble, alabaster, bronze and porcelain.
Through her sculpture she explores the dichotomy between quality and image, inner beauty and the masks we wear to conform to the world, responding to both feminine and the feminist, her past and her present.
*Early bird discount ends midnight 20 January.
Intensive 5 Day Marble Carving Workshop with special guest teacher Usama Alnassar – April
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWSunday 13 April - Thursday 17 April
9:30am - 4:30pm
Fees: $1,150.30
Due to popular demand, Usama Alnassar will be back teaching a 5 Day Marble Carving Workshop this April. Don't miss out!
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.
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, these Workshops are open to any skill level, but carving marble for 5 days, will be physically straining and tiring.
3 Week Stone Carving with Elena Murgia – Monday EVE (April / May)
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWMondays: 28 April - 12 May (3 weeks)
6pm - 9pm
$215.30 (Earlybird)
$240.30 (General)
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 3 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.
This workshop is now fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au, if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
3 Week Stone Carving with Elena Murgia – Tuesday AM (April/May)
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWTuesdays: 29 April - 13 May (3 weeks)
10am - 2pm
$265.30 (Earlybird)
$290.30 (General)
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 3 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.
About Elena:
Elena Murgia is an Italian born artist. After studying ceramics in London, her sculpting journey started at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School in 2017.
She undertook marble carving classes under the guidance of Usama Alnassar who continues to mentor her. Elena has also been mentored and trained by TBSSS teacher Wendy Black, whom Elena continues to assist on a Wednesday during term time.
Elena participates in national prizes and group exhibitions around the country and had her first solo exhibition in December 2023 at the Clara Street Gallery showcasing works in marble, alabaster, bronze and porcelain.
Through her sculpture she explores the dichotomy between quality and image, inner beauty and the masks we wear to conform to the world, responding to both feminine and the feminist, her past and her present.
*Early bird discount ends midnight 8 April.
¾ Life-size Torso Sculpture Workshop with Georgina Mills – AM Workshop
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWMonday 7 July - Friday 11 July
Mon - Thu:10am - 2pm, Fri: 10am - 3pm
Fees: $790.30
This is an intensive workshop that aims at improving student’s observational skills, sculpture techniques and knowledge of human anatomy and form. This course is specifically designed to introduce students to sculptural methods that help simplify the complexities of the human figure.
Over the course students will sculpt from life a ¾ life-size torso with water-based clay. Group lessons and daily individual critiques will help to guide them through this process. Students will then prepare their sculpture to be kiln fired locally at their convenience. Students are to be aware that the kiln firing process can be unpredictable in results and the main goal of the workshop is learning how to improve their sculpting from life skills.
This workshop is now fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au, if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
¾ Life-size Torso Sculpture Workshop with Georgina Mills – PM Workshop
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWMonday 7 July - Friday 11 July
Mon - Thu: 4 - 8pm, Fri: 4 - 9pm
Fees: $790.30
This is an intensive workshop that aims at improving student’s observational skills, sculpture techniques and knowledge of human anatomy and form. This course is specifically designed to introduce students to sculptural methods that help simplify the complexities of the human figure.
Over the course students will sculpt from life a ¾ life-size torso with water-based clay. Group lessons and daily individual critiques will help to guide them through this process. Students will then prepare their sculpture to be kiln fired locally at their convenience. Students are to be aware that the kiln firing process can be unpredictable in results and the main goal of the workshop is learning how to improve their sculpting from life skills.
ONE PLACE LEFT for this Special Workshop.
July – From Wax to Bronze: 2 Day Wax Workshop with Michael Vaynman
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWSat 12 & Sun 13 July, 2025
Fees: $490.30
Wax is a wonderful medium and has many unique properties that make it ideal for sculpting. Wax can be used as a liquid, as a paste, warm (like plasticine), or cold (carvable). During this workshop students will be shown various techniques to utilize these variable states of the medium. Students will be shown how to construct a wax armature, explore modelling techniques and the use of tools for smoothing and texturing. Students will have the opportunity (at an additional cost*) to have their finished wax sculptures cast in bronze by Michael, using the lost wax casting process.
*Bronze casting will be provided at a significant discount to students who wish to cast their work. However prices will need to be looked at on a case by case basis after the workshop concludes as it is impossible to predict the size and complexity of individual artworks before they are made.
The July workshop is now fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au, if you would like to be added to the waitlist. NEW October Workshop added. Scroll down to enrol!
Alabaster Carving with Carol Crawford
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWSat 19 & Sun 20 July, 2025
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 is now fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au, if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
October – From Wax to Bronze: 2 Day Wax Workshop with Michael Vaynman
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School 1A Clara Street, Erskineville, NSWSat 4 & Sun 5 October, 2025
Fees: $495.30
Wax is a wonderful medium and has many unique properties that make it ideal for sculpting. Wax can be used as a liquid, as a paste, warm (like plasticine), or cold (carvable). During this workshop students will be shown various techniques to utilize these variable states of the medium. Students will be shown how to construct a wax armature, explore modelling techniques and the use of tools for smoothing and texturing. Students will have the opportunity (at an additional cost*) to have their finished wax sculptures cast in bronze by Michael, using the lost wax casting process.
*Bronze casting will be provided at a significant discount to students who wish to cast their work. However prices will need to be looked at on a case by case basis after the workshop concludes as it is impossible to predict the size and complexity of individual artworks before they are made.
NEWSFLASH - 1 last place available! Previously sold out - book now!
