Join sculptor and installation artist Ann-Margreth Bohl on this 3-day immersive workshop to learn how to stone carve a Celtic knot.

In this workshop, Ann-Margreth will teach you the fundamental skills of relief stone carving, showing you how to design and low-relief carve a Celtic knot design into stone. A design will be provided with the aim of introducing and carving the specific template. Additionally, Ann-Margreth with give out other designs and share resources on how to design and draw your own Celtic knot should you wish to challenge yourself further. You will explore the space between the 2 and 3 dimensional using a range of processes, materials, tools and techniques.

Before you start carving your design, Ann-Margreth will demonstrate the tools and basic stone carving techniques so you can feel ready to put a chisel on your stone and carve. She will explain the characteristics of the material of sedimentary rock, and Portland Stone as the choice of geological material for this workshop. You will learn about the history Celtic designs, looking at a historical examples of stone relief carvings.

You will learn about low-relief carving and what it means to work between the 2D and 3D perspectives. Once you have chosen a design, you will spend time to consider negative spaces and symmetry, understanding that forms weave constantly over and under. You will create relevant cuts in the Celtic knot design, printed on card and weave strips of card into the cuts made. You will then observe the card lifting and dropping where the card is woven into the design to help you understand the relevance of the physical weave in relation to the carving. Next, you will transfer the design with carbon paper onto a stone tile making necessary amendments to the transferred design. Ann-Margreth will then show you how to visualise the reductive technique of carving, using the card model as an aid so you begin stone carving.

You will leave this workshop with an understanding of the ancient craft of stone carving, translating observation of a 3D form to drawing and with the skills to compose a design for a relief. You will have a Celtic knot design carved in Portland stone.

Tutor: Ann-Margreth Bohl
Date & Time: Thursday 6th, Friday 7th & Saturday 8th August, 10am - 4pm
Venue: Chisel Studio, New Brewery Arts
Price: £245 (£0.00 VAT)

3-day

Please note that this workshop is for those aged 18 and over.

You are welcome to bring a lidded bottle of water with you but we kindly ask that you do not bring food into the studio.

Refreshments are available at our on-site café Blend until 4pm.

For more information:
Visit our FAQ page

Who is this workshop for?
Beginners and those who would like a refresher.

What you will need:
Please bring an apron or wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. You will need to wear closed toe, sturdy shoes.

Please remove jewellery and tie hair back.

All materials and equipment are provided including FFP3 disposable dust masks. A mask must be worn whilst stone carving for your safety.

A list of stone and tool suppliers along with an extensive bibliography is available to all students and can be emailed or given out as a printed copy at the end of the 3-days.

Accommodation: 
Residential option available. Find out about our accommodation, costs and how to book here.

Meet Your Tutor - ann-margreth bohl

Ann-Margreth Bohl is a sculptor and installation artist and has been a tutor at New Brewery Arts for the past 19 years. She first experienced stone carving over 25 years ago when she trained as an art therapist. To this day she is inspired by the physicality of stone and the ability to work creatively with this ancient and lasting material.

Within her current practise stone is not always carved, her inquiry into this ancient material and materials like light and sound are anchored in their phenomenology which she explores through drawing and by creating site specific installations.

She enjoys teaching in an informal way, passing on the skills and knowledge of stonecarving that she has acquired from stonemasons and stone sculptors over the years. She believes that every student has a unique way of working and engaging with form through the process of carving.

When you come to one of Ann-Margreth’s stone carving classes you can be a beginner or an advanced stone carver that enjoys working within a group on an individual project.

Ann-Margreth is happy to give you as much guidance or be as hands off as you wish.She is experienced in the carving of abstract forms and a basic knowledge of letter carving that she is happy to share with you.

Ann-Margreth is currently studying for her Fine Art MA at the University of Gloucestershire.