Limestone Sculpture Carving Workshop with Jim Benfell

Jim learnt his considerable carving skills as a child, with his family involvement in the formation of the Hakatere Marae. His mother becoming Trustee and Kuia for a number of years.
Jim, immersed in marae Tikanga and activities learned the art of carving.
As an adult living for a number of years at Golden Bay he began utilising the abundant driftwood, to create carved art works. Then after his return to Ashburton has developed a passion for limestone carving.
Jim’s continued involvement at the Hakatere Marae has culminated in Jim now a Trustee there, working under Master Carver Alex McLeod, completing the ornate Koruru and Poupou on the maraes Wharenui- meeting house.

We are delighted that Jim has agreed to tutor a second of his popular carving workshops.  This 5 hour workshop will be focused on your design for one large limestone sculpture.  Jim will help you through the tricks and techniques to bring your design to life.

The limestone slab will be
70cm x 33cm x 8cm deep.

You could choose to cut it into 2 and design a combo project e.g. adult form/child form or leave it as is.

For inspiration a google search will give you a lot of ideas about where to begin.

Jim will get the limestone and transport it to our workshop site.  Minimal tools are required and you will get a requirements list on payment for the workshop