What is the best place to learn?

[jetpack42]

I am interested in learning sculpting marble, think Michaelangelo. That calibur of skill, and scope of work. What would be the best place to learn that? Or the best people to learn from? Thanks in advance.
ml

[G. Murdoch]

Jetpack,

Welcome, there are any number of approaches to learning how to carve marble. I personally have followed the soapstone>alabaster>marble path.

Some members of this forum may advocate art school, though I don't know of any schools that could teach you how to carve like Michaelangelo.

Currently I am apprenticing under my friend and mentor, see thread regarding apprenticeship for more info.

A story: My friend Somers has a brother Adam. Adam has been painting for years with no real intent to market his work. So he finishes these large oil on canvas paintings, rolls them up before they are completely dry, and stores them in an old barn in Tennesee (humid place). Somehow Adam manages to get himself a show here in Santa Fe, right on Canyon Road. His paintings, not even ten years old, need to be backed, stretched, and restored so they are gallery presentable. Enter Ramon.

Ramon, born a Basque, raised in Cuba, School of the Americas, 3 tours in Vietnam, etc...has restored paintings and sculpture for the Smithsonian, among them Washington Crossing the Delaware (painting) North and South Americas (marble sculptures). Ramon learned about marble in Carrera, where he worked in the quarry with the Carrrerini for one year '63. Ramon went into the quarry, and told the quarry-master that he wanted to be a sculptor, but how was he to do this? The quarry-master said either you are a sculptor or you are not, the marble will decide. He gave Ramon a hammer and a point chisel, and set him loose on a broken block. Ramon says that one of the proudest moments of his life was his final day at Carrera, the quarry-master greeted him with "Buon Giorno Signori Sculptori".

I dont know how one can learn to carve marble like Michaelangelo, but I appreciate your ambition. I recommend a block of stone, hammer, and chisel. Good luck.

Graham