It’s been several years since I worked in clay by modeling. The course allowed me through Philippe Coudari’s teaching, to change my perspective and work by extracting as if we were carving stone or wood. Now I have a better understanding of shape and volume. The course, which is given in a warm and friendly manner, was for me a unique experience in the wonderful world of sculpture. I highly recommend it!

He spoke, on his site, of a course off the beaten track. As a couple intrigued by this we began our adventure from Geneva to Montreal.
Everything started with a visit to the studio of the artist Philippe Coudari. We were immediately engaged in the process. There followed three days of dizzying battle, physical and mental, the nose and face sometimes covered with dust from this raw material to be harnessed under the tutelage of a master. He remained riveted on the purpose of the exercise keeping the students on track, always attentive to the progression of one and all, ready to support our unskilled hands. All the necessary explanations were given throughout the process.  It was a marathon of involvement and concentration.  One could ask where it all would end.  The answer is a new horizon opening toward all the prospects of creation, supported by a strong methodological approach. The icing on the cake? At the end of the course the master, based on the participants’ sketches made at the beginning, showed us in a few strokes how to apply the thinking behind the course.  In doing so he demonstrated the potential of the practical application of what we learned, reinforcing our understanding of the course and reminding us that the foundation is and remains the creative act, even when it is awkward.
So, quite simply, many thanks, Philippe, for this adventure and this great class.  Your approach is truly out of the ordinary and a fundamental key to the understanding of sculpture.

Nous avons vécu une expérience hors du commun. La démarche de M. Coudari nous entraine dans un monde où la technique, lorsque bien exécutée, devient l’outil au service de l’oeuvre. Il nous offre une approche qui nous permettra de mettre en sculpture nos futures idées et images. Coudari, très généreux dans ses explications, nous aide à concevoir l’objet sculpté dans son ensemble. Je ne puis que recommander cette expérience intense à tous ceux qui cherchent à comprendre comment se bâtit une belle sculpture. À ceux qui désirent voir ce que leurs mains peuvent réaliser, cet atelier est pour vous.

Thank you very much for your generosity in your explanations, the notions of structure
and volumes to demystify sculpture in general and your very structured approach of cutting and carving to understand volumes. It was a great experience for me.

Ça fait déjà plusieurs années que je fais de la sculpture sur argile; je travaillais surtout par modelage. Le cours de Philippe Coudari m’a permis de changer la perspective et de travailler par extraction comme si l’on taillait la pierre ou le bois. Je comprends mieux la forme et le volume. Le cours, qui est très conviviale, m’a fait vivre une expérience unique dans le monde merveilleux de la sculpture. Je le recommande fortement!

What a great experience!
This studio, luminous and full of works by the artist, was the perfect setting for a beautiful experience. What a surprise to see my block of clay gradually transform into a splendid head! Thank you Philippe for your kindness, your patience, generosity and technical support.
Beyond the techniques, the shared expertise and passion, your teaching sharpened my perception of form, volume, shadow and light. It even enhanced my way of seeing things in three dimensions.

I always wanted to try my hand at sculpture but I’ve always hesitated to do so because I’ve never done art. I felt well supported. The atmosphere is relaxed, there is no competition, and I did not feel intimidated by the more experienced participants. The teacher is patient and an educator. I did not expect to be able to do what I have done in a weekend. This course gave me confidence in my ability to succeed in something new. Even my way of looking at things has changed. I so enjoyed the experience that I took the course twice!

Mr. Coudari is a “master” in the manner he uses to explain this course. Knowing the art of visual form and color is not given to everyone. But the way he explains it, a simple form becomes a sculpture. Thank you for everything you taught me, it was very interesting and rewarding.

Architecture and sculpture have in common structure, form, light and much more. Thank you to Philippe Coudari for this course which reminds me of the basis of our respective businesses. There is a moment of enormous joy that emerges when the face appears to us, much the same as when architecture reveals all its beauty, its potential , its best!

Having made a few non-figurative woodcarvings, this training allowed me to better understand the proportions of a face as well as to improve my sense of observation.
The method is very effective and the result surprising.
I recommend this course to anyone who likes the sculpture even if she has ever made.
It also allows me to better appreciate the works in Gallery and Museum.

I came into this workshop with some limited experience with sculpting the human head, but Philippe was able to take me back to the basics and introduce me to the importance of working with form, volume, structure and anatomy.  This has given my work a new strength and purpose.  I will always have the head which I created in the workshop as a reminder to create with this new way of looking at sculpture.  Working with Philippe in his fabulous studio was very inspiring for me and I am so glad I took this workshop. Thank you Philippe.

This was a rewarding course, which enabled me to understand and see volumes, to forget old habits and to let myself be guided.
These three days have been full of valuable learning. My view of things will never be the same.
Philippe thank you for your patience and your humor! It was very pleasant!
I will always remember: firm yet relax.

It was a pleasure to meet you and learn your techniques for sculpting.
As a potter of functional ware, I have a need to touch and play with clay.  Sculpting is something fun to try and I found that looking at this medium using your techniques of carving and then modelling were instructional and informative. I also enjoyed your sense of humour and fun!! Coffee and lunch in your beautiful and tropical garden were wonderful!
Many thanks for the great weekend course!

I wanted to learn the direct carving technique and Coudari’s class gave me a solid foundation. I have deepened my understanding of volume, my sense of observation, symmetry and detail.
I went home with a new knowledge about how to dig into the material and have pleasure in giving it shape. Philippe is a generous and demanding teacher!
I would take the class again.
Thank you!

J’ai apprécié l’environnement lumineux dans lequel le cours est donné, entouré des oeuvres de Philippe Coudari. Le cours est bien structuré et bien expliqué. Le week-end a passé très vite et j’ai décroché de mon quotidien. Je suis très satisfaite de ma sculpture que j’admire tous les jours, posée au-dessus de mon foyer! Depuis ce cours je suis davantage consciente de ce que représente la sculpture. Ma façon d’en voir une dans un musée ou dans un paysage s’est enrichie, j’apprécie mieux la technique et les qualités artistiques. Je recommande ce cours à quiconque est prêt à y consacrer le temps et l’énergie nécessaires. Enfin le rapport qualité/prix est très intéressant.

After taking Coudari’s sculpture course I not longer see the world in the same way. I had worked with clay in the past but I had never tried to sculpt. What a great discovery! I loved this experience! Coudari shares his passion for sculpture and is expert in guiding each student throughout the workshop. You use ruler and compass, concentrate and listen to anatomical concepts and measurements, execute precise cuts and from a big block of clay, finish with a head…it’s fascinating! I wish I had the opportunity to follow such a course at college. No, I do not see things the same way at all since I took the course with Coudari and this will certainly influence my work in painting.

This note is a warm thank you for the sculpting course I took with you and in which I had the privilege of participating. The course allowed me to better establish my understanding of the structure of a head and to now be able to sculpt using the plane approach.
I greatly appreciated your structured teaching method, which I found quite ingenious. I hope to one day see it in book format!
The passage of time has allowed me to better appreciate and understand at least some of the ideas you wanted to convey to us. I thank you for your kindness and patience which made the course more enjoyable and it is certain that I will recommend this course with great enthusiasm to anyone interested in sculpture.

Mr. Coudari showed me that the head, however complex it may be, can be carved in clay by anyone using the method he created. With him I discovered that every structure is composed on planes.    I learned how to find them, and how to transpose them onto a mass of clay, thus giving form, volume and light to a work. Philippe has never (believe me!) missed an opportunity to show me how to handle the tools and perfect my technical movements. Having now learned the basics of sculpture with Philippe Coudari, I feel able to move forward and have fun in this creative universe.

My fiance and I are beginners in sculpting and we discovered the class of M. Coudari by internet. We are 100% satisfied with Philippe’s teaching. His method is simple and efficient yet challenging. M.Coudari is always ready to help the students and answer questions. The atmosphere is relax and laid back due to the teacher’s humor. The general principles of the art of sculpting are explained clearly which allows the student to go back home with the necessary tools to begin projects on their own. We recommend this course to anyone interested in sculpting.

At first I was reluctant to take this intensive course – anticipating that it would demand energy, concentration and would test my ability to follow instructions. It soon became apparent that Philippe has an innate understanding of each student’s character and how best to work with them. He knows how to put us at ease by providing precise instructions supported by insightful explanations and peppered with a great sense of humour.  He raises our power of observation. His patience knows no limits. Be prepared for multiple corrections of your work if needed. This is a necessary part of the learning process.

As others have testified the experience of transforming a block of clay into a sculpture of a human head is thrilling. He transports us from a 2D world to one filled with volume, structure, light and planes. His style of teaching encourages us to truly see what exists around us as opposed to what we want to see. A trip on the metro or a walk down the street observing our fellow citizens will never be the same.

I thank you Philippe for giving us the tools to enter a new dimension on our journey through life.