Course descriptions listed below are for Private, Semi Private, Group Private, and Workshops in France, Portugal and the United States.

The Semi Private or Private Sessions run year round, with each week scheduled as the student(s) and myself decide on our times available.
Group Private Sessions are set up in the time frames listed below.
Workshops given in America will be held in May 2008.
There will be a (3) week workshop given either in Austin, Texas; Fresno, California or Durham, NC.  Please email me for more details.

It is our desire to provide extensive instruction, in a healthy, relaxed atmosphere conducive to intense sculptural development and personal transformation. The instructor, Martine Vaugel, teaches using demonstrations, lectures, individual critiques and hands-on instruction.
The class's meets Monday through Friday from 10am - 1pm, and from 3pm - 6pm.
Please note, we find partners for those wishing to participate in Semi private, or group private instructions.

All classes are held in a small hamlet called "Les Cerqueux sous Passavant" located in the picturesque Loire Valley, France, where Martine Vaugel resides.

As many of you know, we have been having our USA classes for 30 years, and our France Summer Intensive Workshops have been a source of excitement for us, as well as the many students who have attended them, for the past 23 years.

Instruction is for all levels.
We seek highly motivated students who are hungry for basic knowledge. We provide as many opportunities as possible for maximum learning based on individual motivation and proven group dynamics. The teaching approach is based on a profound geometric and anatomical analysis of the figure. It emphasizes boney landmarks, the weighting of planes in the creation of forms, the skull and direct observation.

For the BEGINNER
We are "process" not "product" oriented teachers. We know that everyone has a multitude of creative energy and sculptural ideas waiting to come forth from within. It is our desire to give you the tools and the processes we ourselves use in order to create our own sculptural visions. We believe letting go of "product" orientation during our program will greatly free you in your ability to simply learn, allowing for the more critical, and painful aspects of the learning process to take a back seat.

For the ADVANCED student
Using our geometric and graphic approach will greatly increase your ability to objectify and "fix" your own sculptures. We believe this will diminish your dependence on teachers, giving you the professional ability you are craving, and take many of you out of the realm of "student sculptors" and into the realm of "professional sculptors". Our definition of "Professional" is not the ability to sell your own work, but the ability to create your own work.

We are proud to say that most graduates of our intensive programs, whether beginner or advanced student, have acknowledged the birth of a greatly enhanced freedom to create due to the experience.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Portrait Sculpture - 2 weeks optimum
The first week of this portrait process is taught from a live model, the second from photos. The Basic skull lecture is given at the beginning of both weeks. Extra modeling time for people enrolled for 2 weeks will be an available during the second week of the portrait class for those wishing to continue working from the model as well.In the 2 weeks, students should expect to sculpt 1 portrait from life, as well as 1 portrait from photos.

Week 1:

You will first sculpt a generic skull - through demonstration and lectures, you follow me through the entire process as we go from the armature to an abstracted geometric generic skull. We then change the generic to be the specific skull of the model - using the boney landmarks found on every face, but with differing geometric relationships on every specific person. I then teach a method of engineering and applying clay to go from the skull to the finished portrait.

Week 2:

You have the opportunity to bring photos of someone you would like to sculpt a portrait of and we will use the above techniques, as well as other techniques, to sculpt them. This way you not only have the opportunity of reinforcing the method, but also of doing two portraits, one from life and one from photos.

Figure Sculpture - 2 weeks optimum
The Vaugel Sculpture Method is based on using“proportions” as horizontals, “plum lines” as verticals, and “boney landmarks” as diagonals, students work geometrically creating grids and establishing 3D clay diagrams of the figure in the round, before completing the process of clay modeling and finishing. The Vaugel Sculpture Method system of using geometric relationships and establishing a working order, allows even beginning students to maneuver with knowing through the creative process of figure modeling. Students have consistently graduated to sculpting with knowledge, enthusiasm and certainty. (see Testimonials).

Week 1:

The Standing Figure Course is the basis for all the other figure instruction. Students complete a sculpture of a standing figure, using the method described above.

Week 2:

Students will sculpt seated and reclining poses.  Please see website for more information.

For those students wishing to be prepared for this class beforehand we highly recommend purchasing the video, "Sculpting the Portrait in Clay" by MARTINE VAUGEL    Cost: $100. +$5. shipping; Mail to the address below.

LOCATIONS:
FRANCE: Martine's workshops are held in my home and studio, in the Maine and Loire province of France. We work in a large skylit studio, which sits in the middle of an ancient village of about 100 inhabitants. During the summer months foreign artists who have purchased houses, and students, double the size of the town. Les Cerqueux Sous Passavant dates back to the 9th century. With lush, rolling hills of sunflowers and wheat, dotted by chateaux and small farms. The landscape has been made famous by many great painters. During the down time of class, after shopping for antiques and wine tasting, many students choose to go to the coast and either swim in the ocean or take a chance in the casinos, 1 1/2 hours from the village. French language and cooking classes are offered several times a week.

Housing
We have a small house in the country for 2 people, with two bedrooms beautiful gardens and a small pond, as well as a 2 bedroom apartment in our house. (Our apartment is up 2 flights of stairs, so should be considered by more active persons, who like a bit of exercise). All have extra beds and rooms for "visitors" at no extra charges, or we also have several countryside small houses or apartments available for couples wanting not to share a living space with another student. All are clean and modern and full of charm.

Cars
We usually use a great enterprise out of the Paris airports. Cars are about 6-700 euros a month to rent. One is renting brand new Peugots every time, at very reasonable rates. Minimum 3 weeks. Regular cars for shorter periods of time can be rented in our village at 150e a week price, but one must get from the train station to the village at the cost of 50e each way. We can arrange for cars and transportation for you.
GROUP COSTS: approximately (200 e’s for a month of shared car for four)

Cell Phones and Computers
There is a cyber café in a town about 20 minutes away. Emergencies only can be taken care of from my home computer. Cell phone European numbers (cards) can be purchased in America so that your cell phones will work in France.

Finished Sculptures
We have a mold maker available, but most students’ take their work home with them, shipping the leather hard clay, and finishing them at home where they make their own molds or have them made.

TO REGISTER return the following to the Vaugel Sculpture Studio at one of the addresses below, or contact us via email. You can also download the registration form and then send it.

For European classes - send a bank check, payable to Martine Vaugel, for the amount of euros required, or send a US $check equivalent and add the equivalent of 20 euros for conversion to euros by our bank here in France.
Mail letter of intent and 1/2 deposit for tuition to:
Martine Vaugel
2 rue Petit Anjou
Les Cerqueux Sous Passavant
49310 Vihiers, France

For American workshops - AND / OR TO ORDER A DVD OR VIDEO:
send a US$ check, payable to Vaugel Sculpture Studio, to our American address listed below, and we will deposit it in America.
VAUGEL SCULPTURE STUDIO
2101 Ramsgate St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

For more information, please email or call us or give us a time and we will call you.
Please remember we are 6 hours ahead of EST.

Thank you again for your inquirey.
Martine Vaugel

If you'd like to link to VaugelSculpture.com, please feel free to use one of the banners we've posted for your convenience. You will find them on the Contact page.