There is no better dream in an artists life than to study art in a beautiful place that calls to their soul. For me this is the history, renaissance, sculpture and the creative spirit of Italy. It is the place of inspiration filled with the art and sculpture of the masters that have gone before. In January I was given the amazing opportunity to study the art of Bas Relief at the Istituto Poligrafico dell’Arte della Zecca. The school is the only one of its kind in the world. Instructors are modern day Masters that have studios in italy and are truly gifted teachers. Only teaching at the school for one day each week the Professors enjoy sharing their wisdom, techniques and hard won experience with the 36 students attending the school.
I have been amazed at the talents of the students and how determined, goal oriented and driven they are.
The school is located in the beautiful city of Rome, where art is everywhere. An artist can only become better when you are surrounded by the beauty of the local sculpture, architecture and history that is on display in abundance.
At the school we are learning how to make our own tools for everything! And lessons are tradionally classicaly taught in copper engraving and printing, embossing, direct metal engraving, wax sculpting, relief modelling, molding, chemistry, enamelling, stone carving, gemstone carving, life drawing, new computer technology, archival art restoration, and chase and reposse. The school is associated with the italian mint and develops the talents of italy’s top artists and disperses them into the mints all over the world. Every year there is a calendar medal produced by the mint and created by a student.
to be continued…..
I will be discussing in my next blogs some of the disappearing arts such as copper engraving, embossing, wax modelling, direct engraving metal, stone /shell engraving and chase and reposse. I am Looking forward to sharing some of the art forms I am learning at the school.
Here is a Youtube link to a documentary done by a local Italian TV Show (I am at 23 seconds).
The making of a coin –
Pistrucci Bottega 