Stone Carving Workshop

On Saturday I was at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes running a stone carving workshop.

It is lovely to see when someone starts to get the feel of the mallet and chisel, and gains confidence with their carving.  I saw lots of this from nervous starters, imagining they would damage the stone, feeling they weren’t artistic, and initially frustrated that the chisel wouldn’t go where they wanted it to.

Then transformed, eagerly carving, beginning to understand the mallet action and chisel angle to make the shapes they wanted.  Lost in concentration and creativity.

A lovely day – thanks to all at the Museum and the volunteers for your help and looking after me.  And thanks to all the carvers for your brilliant work!