Wood and Stone carving workshop

This big room is the stone and wood carving workshop,  one of my favourite places in complutense. With its symmetrical rows and rows of identical tables, it looks a bit  like a sweatshop, but the atmosphere in here is very laid back (music aside: a compilation cd of 10-20 songs on repeat for 12 hours)  The studio is open 9 to 9 everyday with technicians and teachers on hand to help us out. However, for the most part, students drop in and out, reworking their block of stone or wood  for months on end. legend has it one student recenlty won 8000 euros in a competition....

A brave student brought in half a fucking tree!  the process can be painfully slow but I look forward  to seeing how this one turns out. 



the technicians' corner. for cutting up wood to size with dangerous machinery



some previous projects by students

Danish Niels attacking a piece of wood

Our beautiful tools. I´ve been telling almost everyone i know  about these bad boys , but to little interest.  anyone who´s bought a pair though know that owning these is like owning your very own sword

Before starting work on our piece, we make a scaled down version out of polystyrene. The wood carving process requires a lot of calculation, so it's important to have an understanding of the shape you're working towards to avoid making any mistakes

My overpriced block of wood

Sculpture of the hideous woman in progress. It's been a challenge to get diversity in the shapes I'm trying to create, and at the moment it still looks like a block of wood. I've also found the process very similar to drawing, as it involves the constant plotting of lines, and every mark I make has an impact on the end effect.