THE COUDARI METHOD ©

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.

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.

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.

Finally! This course has allowed me to understand the logic of taking material away. Having worked more in my previous classes by modeling, adding material, my attempts to sculpt in wood and stone were not convincing. I have the sincere impression that now I would know how to approach those materials. After taking the class I am able to make a link to previous techniques and concepts. I now understand theoretically and practically, the idea of volume and the structure of the elements of the face through measurements.
I learned to place myself physically in the best position to be able to use tools that I had not often used. The artist’s studio is beautiful, bright, spacious and inspiring.
Philippe as a professor is patient, careful, precise and a rigorous sculptor. His approach and his course are both well thought out and delivered.
Bonus, the musical atmosphere is excellent!

I enjoyed and learned in this course. I had the satisfaction of succeeding in sculpting a head for the first time, and the new experience of thinking three dimensionally, the feeling of having developed my sense of observation, and using a working method that will go beyond the scope of the course … I also appreciated the teaching skills of Philippe Coudari as well as the generosity and guidance he offers to everyone. The course is given with a smile in an atmosphere both serious and warm. I came out of this class enriched. I recommend it without reservation!

It was an intensive weekend for a first experience in sculpting clay. I am pleasantly surprised by the head I made. I especially thank you Philippe for your patience and sharing your passion. Yes, I would do the whole experience again with pleasure!

I arrived on tiptoe. I left head high. Coudari: what a sculptor, what a teacher, talented and generous. Thank you Philippe!

Any beginner and even amateur sculptors should attend this class. The course is very intensive, very demanding and requires a lot of attention, but you learn a lot.
It shows you not only how to properly use the tools but also how to position your body so as not to tire quickly. It teaches you how to look at your work and that of others. The course does not show just technical elements, it also teaches a way of thinking and understanding sculpture.
After the course you will not see a sculpture in the same way.
I highly recommend it.

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.

This workshop allowed me to have the experience of sculpting a realistic head in clay. Through the sequential process taught in the course I learned the answers to my questions about volume, balance of form, light and shadow.  I enjoyed it reatly!

Phillippe is a talented man, passionate and full of good will. One is lucky to know him. He is committed to every student and goes well beyond the expectations of a teacher.
The success of each participant is not an objective for him, but a mission that he intends to fulfill. Not only will you gain knowledge of the world around you by understanding sculptural forms, but you will learn first and foremost to know yourself. For me, it was a turning point of great value.

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!

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!

The sculpture course we did last week was five stars. I definitely learned more in three days in your course, Philippe, than in both my sculpting sessions in college!

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.

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!

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!

I want to thank you for an excellent workshop focused on approaching sculpture of the head as a geometric form.
While you used guides to mark off the head into planes there was a constant emphasis that we were developing a way of looking at any part of the body or even an abstract figure.
You demonstrated how planes reflected light and could be used to draw our attention to specific features even after
the planes were rendered less obvious. Your constant reminders that I used good tool technique were needed. I still need practice. I continue to remind myself that I should stand as if practicing Tai Chi, integrating body, tool and vision.

Thank you very much for your skill, patience and the lunches we shared on your rooftop garden.

This course has been very rewarding and I recommend it to those who want to learn about sculpture. It allows not only to understand the essential notions of structure and plans but also to refine its sense of observation. You will not look at  sculptures the same way after this course!

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.