Like many art students, when Marcia knew she wanted to specialise in a particular industry - stonecarving, it took time to find the right course. Creative & Cultural Skills will offer information about relevant courses on its unique web portal. This is Marcia's story.
What I do
I restore old buildings and carve letters, for example, on foundation stones.
Education
I went to art college to do printing but during the first year we tried different mediums and I never left the stoneyard!
When I left with a BA in Fine Arts I didn't have the right knowledge about working with stone. Like a lot of art tutors, mine had got complacent and stale. I knew I needed more carving experience.
My career path
I did various jobs while finding studios to create pieces that were aesthetically pleasing. I heard about a three-year MA in Architectural Stonecarving at the City & Guilds of London Art School. I couldn't afford to study full-time but they offered me a scholarship. It was wonderful because the tutors were out in the field. We were encouraged to find work and I went to San Francisco; then I had an opportunity to work on Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire. I now freelance and teach. I'm surprised at how much I enjoy that too.
What I've learned
I should have been more assertive about what I wanted out of Art College - but ironically if that had not been so bad, I would not have found the City & Guilds course.
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WHEN I LEFT ART COLLEGE, I DIDN'T |
If Marcia were starting now Creative & Cultural Skills could offer:
- A database of accredited courses on stonemasonry
My one piece of advice by Marcia Bennett Male, stonemason
Spend time researching your chosen college and course. Pay the fare and visit the college, check out the tutors, don't be afraid to ask questions.