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Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

Tap into your creativity and master the craft of stone sculpting in this hands-on workshop led by a professional sculptor. Step into the techniques of blocking, detailing, and finishing as you build a stunning piece. No experience required.

  • All levels
  • Small class sizes
  • 16 and older
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  • 4200 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL
  • 6 hours & 30 minutes

Express Checkout – $95


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Start Dates (2) $95/person

  • Additional Materials Fee of $100 due day of class
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Class Description

Description

Discover the art of stone carving by designing, carving, and polishing your own alabaster sculpture during this hands-on one-day class. Work under the guidance of professional stone sculptor Jyl Bonaguro, who maintains her sculpture studio at Workshop 4200, a creative hub for makers, artists, builders, and innovators since 2015.

Learning Techniques:

  • Blocking techniques for structural foundation
  • Detailing methods for refined work
  • Finishing processes for completed alabaster sculptures

Tools and Materials Provided:

All carving tools are supplied through the generosity of the Awesome Foundation, along with one small block of alabaster, safety equipment (glasses, gloves, and dust masks), and instructional guidance. This class is designed for adults only, and no prior experience is necessary to participate. If you are sensitive to noise, consider bringing your own earplugs. Please bring your own lunch, as meals are not provided.

Workshop Fee and Additional Costs:

An additional materials fee of $100 is collected at the time of class.

About Alabaster Stone:

Alabaster stands apart from harder stone varieties like marble or limestone, making it an ideal beginner carving material. This soft, lightly colored, translucent stone has been prized throughout history for creating everything from small decorative perfume bottles to life-size statues. Its beauty lies in the way light passes through it, producing artwork of remarkable elegance and visual appeal. The manageable softness allows carvers of all levels to achieve professional results.

Refund Policy

Refund requests must be submitted to [email protected] 3 business days prior to the program’s start date and time. The registration fee will be refunded less a 10 percent processing charge. A refund is issued in the form of a credit on file (to be used for future programs).

Refund Processing Fees:

The following only applies in the event a provider’s cancellation/refund policy allows for cancellations and a full refund, please see above or contact CourseHorse to determine eligibility.

In the event a class is still going to occur and a full refund is requested, and you are eligible for a full refund in accordance with the provider’s policy, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from your refund amount


Reviews of Classes at Jyl Bonaguro (55)

(4.9-star rating across 55 reviews)

This class: 5.0 out of 5 from 54 reviews

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    I gifted this sculpture workshop to my fiancé for his birthday. This helped beat the winter blues and a perfect date-style activity. The studio is gorgeous, the teacher made everything feel accessible, and we left with finished pieces we’re actually proud of. Bonus points for being active and getting the blood flowing. Would absolutely recommend.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    An awesome opportunity to do a start-to-finish project in a single day, as a total beginner. Jyl was very generous in helping to learn tools and techniques, and also in sharing information and stories about her work and her involvement in the art scene.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    Very fun and educational workshop! Jyl did a great job of providing technical direction while allowing us to explore our creativity. It was really cool that we were able to finish a sculpture and take it home in one day!
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    The pacing of the class was easy to follow. Jyl was kind and knowledgeable. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to hit the alabaster a bit harder.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    My dream is to be a stone sculptor. This course make my dream real! I need to practice more but Jyl is the best teacher mentor you can find! She is a specialist in marble sculpture using the same techniques used by the greatest sculptors in history. Yes, with the same technique that Michelangelo used. I am very grateful to Jyl and I recommend with all certainty to anyone who finds something beautiful in marble sculptures and wants to try or anyone who loves art and wants to try a new art, this is for you!
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    My second time taking this class. Its a unique and fun experience that you don't find a chance to do often. Especially when being able to work closely with the instructor.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    This course was absolutely phenomenal! The instructor and course are accessible and welcoming to students at all skill levels, from someone with absolutely zero experience in any arts (like myself) to some of my classmates who were talented illustrators and promising beginner/intermediate stone carvers. Jyl is very friendly and knowledgeable and eager to introduce pupils to stone carving. I loved working in her studio and seeing all the wonders she's made and previewing her works that are in-progress. After 6.5 hours, our class had taken rough blocks of stone and turned them into our visions; some complex and some very simple (like mine). But they were ours. I highly recommend this class to everyone!
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    Jyl is a real pro. Master carver, great teacher. Well-designed introduction to stone carving.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    A great class and juyl gave us plenty if personalized attention. Would highly recommend.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    I recommend this class at every level. The artist-teacher is excellent at managing students of different skills and making sure we're all safe and having fun. She is a brilliant thinker (who will explain how stonecarving is a uniquely reductive art, where you take something away instead of adding to), but is also so chill and welcoming to all kinds of students from all kinds of backgrounds. The stonecarving craft itself is a meditative experience, especially once you can wrap your mind around the fact that you're creating something new out of a natural material which is thousands of years old. But it's always creative, always active, always fun. The teacher's knowledge and artistry is everywhere, and the more you absorb the more you'll love the craft and the class. Look on the walls and floor and tables of her studio, ask her questions, and most of all, Listen to her stories. There is so much information, integrated in her life's work! In that one day I felt like I walked away with a month of stonecarving education. This is also the kind of class which will give more everytime you take it. I fully intend to take it again when I have the funds, and if I am ever wealthy somehow, I will go broke hiring Jyl to make beautiful things in marble.
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    The stone carving workshop with Jyl Bonaguro was excellent and made for an amazing day! The class is thoughtfully designed, guiding you through the use of various chisels and tools, and how to apply each step from initial shaping to final polishing. Jyl’s pre-class advice to consider an abstract design was very helpful, as it allowed me to experience the full process and focus on the fundamentals. I arrived with a clear idea, and after sketching, Jyl confirmed it was ideal for the timeline. I was thrilled with the outcome and left with a beautiful, highly polished sculpture that closely matched my vision. Whether you have an arts background or are just curious, this class is very approachable. The day flew by in a flow state, but Jyl kept us on track to ensure everyone completed their pieces. Each participant created a unique, beautiful sculpture, and it was clear everyone enjoyed themselves. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in learning the basics of stone carving or simply looking for a rewarding, hands-on experience. Five stars!
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    Jyl hosted an amazing class! It was intimate, well-paced, and great for absolute beginners. I walked away proud of what I accomplished and genuinely surprised with my results. She’s clearly an excellent instructor and knows the craft inside and out. So much fun!
  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

  • Stone Carving Sculptures Workshop

    The main thing preventing this from being a five star review is HOLY CRAP THIS IS NOT FOR THE WEAK. Hammering a chisel into stone, as it turns out, will take a lot of energy out of you. Apart from that, the traditional sculpting techniques of using pointed, toothed, and flat chisels before filing, sanding, and polishing were covered.
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Jyl Bonaguro

Jyl Bonaguro is a self-taught sculptor and playwright in Chicago, specializing in hand-carving Italian marble, who can teach you to intertwine narrative forms and help audiences connect through your work.

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