Upcoming Dates:

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11th & 12th November 2023 - 3 places

10th & 11th February 2024 - FULL

17th & 18th February 2024 - FULL

(this will be our last in person course)

 

A very popular course, the weekend bronze casting workshop takes place at our specialist foundry set in the rolling farmland hills of Carmarthenshire, Wales.  Just a short drive from the M4, near to the Botanic Gardens of Wales, we are within easy reach of beautiful beaches, castles, mountains, forests and river valley scenery.  If you need to find somewhere to stay, there are plenty of fantastic B&Bs and self catering places nearby.  There are also nearby hotels and some really lovely places to eat.  We can send you through a list with suggestions.

 

The price includes all tuition, materials and equipment to make a small object or sculpture in bronze up to 2kg finished weight.  There will be unlimited tea, coffee and snacks available all day but please bring your own packed lunch.   

 

*Covid-19*

We are now taking bookings and we are  able to run courses again, but this is subject to change dependant upon the circumstance.  We will limit numbers on the course to 6 so that there is plenty of space to allow for social distancing and will be in touch prior to the course about any particular precautions at the time.  

 

We will ask that if any participant feels unwell in any way or if a member of their household or a contact is unwell that they do not attend the course.  We can provide refunds for cancellations or your place can be deferred to another date.  We will be putting health first in every case.

 

The course has been designed to be suitable for anyone, whether you have experience or not.  We limit numbers on our weekend courses, so that there is ample time to ask any questions and to receive plenty of instruction.  Previous participants include sculptors, jewellers, glass artists, ceramicists, blacksmiths, stonemasons, furniture makers, designers and printmakers.  Nurses, research scientists, farmers, teachers, plumbers.  Anyone who loves to experiment with an exciting process and learn new skills. Groups and children are also welcome - please contact us with any queries.

 

Experienced course leader, Mark Halliday RCA, will lead you through every stage of the process from modelling your wax, learning how to use ceramic shell to make a mould and then to witnessing the pouring of your sculpture or object.   If you have an idea for a specific piece of work, please do contact us to discuss this.

 

You will learn:

 

  about different types of bronze casting techniques

  how to manipulate modelling wax and how to use other waxes in the casting process

  how to fit runners and risers (a sprue system) to your wax sculpture

  the methods and process of making ceramic shell refractory moulds

  how to burn out the wax from your mould

  about furnaces, crucibles and melting bronze

  about ways of finishing completed work

  health and safety considerations in relation to all materials and processes

  how you can start to set up your own foundry, if you wish

 

You will have access to:

 

  all the equipment you need to make a small sculpture or object in bronze to take away

  expert tuition in every aspect of the process

  our library of sculpture books and our collection of bronze sculptures by a range of artists

  our large studio space and specialist workshops