Sebastian Rasch reviews

5 Feb 18'

Philip Champion reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"It was a great course in a lovely location. I have always wanted to learn about stone carving and this course gave me the knowledge to start a new craft. Many thanks for a wonderful weekend"

26 Jan 18'

Tony reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"My partner and I, with four friends, attended the introductory stone carving course given by Sebastian last weekend. I was keen to try stone carving as this is a material that I have no experience of working with at all. It was intriguing working with Bath Stone (quiet a soft stone) and pleasing results were obtained rather more promptly than I had thought was possible. It was a strangely compelling task and the time flew by. Sebastian is a very supportive and enthusiastic teacher and allowed each of us loose to develop our own projects, some of which were well planned and others purely random (such as my own). Despite some cold and wet weather the workshops were sufficiently warm. Conditions are a little basic owing to the relatively remote rural location of the workshops. Moderately aggressive geese guarding the route to the lavatory did cause some consternation among some of the attendees. I would not hesitate to recommend this course to anyone interested in trying stone carving for the first time. It is certainly an activity that I would try again."

25 Jan 18'

Stone Sculpting reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A thoroughly enjoyable weekend and a great way to try out stone sculpture. Sebastian first asks you about your skills and aspirations for the weekend. There is then an explanation of the different types of stone and tools to be used. You have a trial piece of stone to experiment with the various tools before starting in earnest on your real sculpture. Sebastian offers advice and encouragement as you progress (and helps out if you are struggling or break off the wrong bit). The course is run in a lovely rural setting just below the Cotswold hills, it is quite inspiring to sculpt out in the open air (albeit a bit bracing in a cold January wind)."

25 Jan 18'

Louise Bradforth reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A group of 6 of us attended Sebastian's 2 day stone carving course. After a short intro' we were let loose with our blocks of stone; first a practice block to get to know the tools on and then onto the final piece. Having never carved stone or wood my hopes of creating anything artistic were quite low...but I was surprised by how soft and easy Bath stone is to cut...and pleased by the end result. It was an informative introductory course in a friendly environment - and above all it was fun! Top Tip 1 - plan what it is you'd like to create. A sketch might help. And remember its just a weekend course - not enough time to create a replica of Michelangelo's David. Top Tip 2 - This would be a great present for an art student to broaden their 3D work (for example for the portfolio of a student wanting to go onto a foundation art or degree course)."

24 Jan 18'

Maryanne Stanley reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"This was an immensely rewarding weekend, where I was free to explore the wonderful material of bath stone. There were a wide variety of interesting people who created some marvellous finished sculptures. I had requested a larger stone (3' x 2' x 1') to work with & was more than aware I would need to finish it off at home. I have since purchased tools and plan many more sculptures. Many thanks to Sebastian for the introduction to this material & for the numerous photos."

22 Jan 18'

Ewan Preston reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Well what a great weekend. Think I've found a new hobby. Great people on the course with an excellent instructor. Sebastian gives enough guidance to enable your hidden artist to emerge and release your full potential. I can totally recommend this weekend."

13 Nov 17'

Richard reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A great weekend with an excellent instructor, highly recommended for anyone who wants to relax with a hammer and chisel!! and learn how to create something from nothing."

13 Nov 17'

Emefa reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"I thoroughly enjoyed Sebastian’s stone carving course. The workshop is located in a very natural and relaxing environment. Sebastian himself is a very skilled and intuitive teacher. I absolutely recommend this course."

2 Nov 17'

Andy Horn reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A brilliant two days in bucolic Gloucestershire learning to carve stone. Great atmosphere and relaxing setting and one is quickly absorbed into the rhythm and feel of carving. The stone is soft and malleable which makes it easily responsive to creating something and the satisfaction of achievement at the end of two days. Being in a small group was great and Sebastian was a very encouraging teacher. Have definitely caught the stone-carving bug!"

19 Oct 17'

Liz warby reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Sebastian was great fun and very helpful and attentive ! The whole experience was brilliant and we made a wonderful water feature together me and my husband ! Would definetley recommend a wonderful weekend Thanks Sebastian"

16 Oct 17'

Jane attfield reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A great weekend! The course gave me the opportunity to do something totally different, to be creative and have time out in a lovely setting. Sebastian was always on hand for help and support when needed and he was encouraging and supportive of all our very different project ideas. I was amazed by what I had managed to produce as a complete novice by the end. I'd recommend this to anyone even someone who thinks they would never be able to do it."

16 Oct 17'

Lisa reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"I loved the place, the animals, the fields stretching out beyond, the simple technology and working in the fresh air. Sebastian was so good at creating a mellow peaceful atmosphere, taking us back to when time was spent making things to last."

15 Oct 17'

Elaine reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Great weekend. Sebastian was really helpful and helped me create something I was really pleased with. Beautiful surroundings, plenty of tools and lots of tea!"

22 Sep 17'

Catherine Stuart reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"This was such a good stone carving course run by the very interesting and lovely Sebastian who has a very calm approach to teaching - gently guiding and encouraging everyone. Our daughter had bought one of Sebastian's stone carving courses for my husband's birthday and he spent a wonderful 2 days in sunny April (2017) on the course in Saul and afterwards he just could not stop telling everyone how much he had enjoyed it...so our daughter bought one of Sebastian's courses for my birthday too. I normally sculpt in clay or wax and so used Sebastian's course to understand the possibilities and some of the techniques in stone carving. Sebastian had some very interesting tools, some found on his travels in Africa..which were amazing. Everyone on the course managed to complete a sculpture in just two days!! The two day course in Bentham (Cheltenham) was hard work, very messy, great fun, with very nice people - in a truly beautiful setting next to a field of sheep looking onto Birdlip escarpment on one side and a fenced off area with wonderful geese !! and chickens on the other. I also loved the compost loo!! We should all have one. As it is the UK and September (2017) we had amazing sunshine, a little bit of rain, then cold but bright weather and then very hot sun. We sculpted out side, which was wonderful and just put on more layers or took them off as needed and did not need to go inside at all. I think everyone should do some sort of art course at least once at some point in their life as art is so liberating and such fun and Sebastian's stone carving course gets five stars from me. Catherine."

18 Sep 17'

Rachael Kidd reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"I had a fantastic weekend. The whole set-up is perfect for two days. Sebastian has got the balance just right; enabling a relaxed but highly productive atmosphere! I learnt so much but never felt overwhelmed. We were all very different students, with different approaches and confidence levels. Sebastian adapted to each of our needs very quickly and we all flourished. I will be doing this course again for sure. The setting is also beautiful."

18 Sep 17'

Mike Baker reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"I had done no stone carving before, but found I was able to produce a piece that I was really quite pleased with. On some art courses I have found tutors to be little too full of their own ability, and this has produced negative stress and a poor learning experience. Sebastian has a very light touch. He is always ready and willing to offer advice, but also happy to let you progress at your own pace and this certainly worked well for me. The tools, materials and setting are all excellent and I enjoyed the whole experience very much."

18 Sep 17'

Patrick reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Sebastian generates a very relaxed atmosphere, and managed to inspire all the people on the course to generate some really great sculptures. He was very knowledgeable and helpful, with practical and creative help provided with great charm. The venue was great, with views over the fields to the Birdlip escarpment."

18 Sep 17'

Rachael reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

8 Sep 17'

Ian Penny reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Great two day course, four of us went to Sebastian's weekend course in Saul near Frampton. I had never tried sculpture before but with tips from Sebastian soon got the hang of working with stone it's totally different working in 3D (I usually draw/paint). I am now hooked on stone sculpturing, I can really recommend doing a course just for the fun of it, it was not expensive, you get good tuition and we all enjoyed the weekend. Ian P"

4 Sep 17'

Jane Flower reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"This was a really enjoyable course: relaxed friendly atmosphere, beautiful setting and skilled, patient teaching. I shall definitely be back for more!"

1 Sep 17'

Ronald Wild reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"What a tremendous weekend, blessed by wonderful weather and my own piece of art. The location, off the Sharpness canal towpath, is perfect. Everything you need is provided, one of the best parts is the 'practice stone' which is to hack away at to see how it responds to the tools. No power tools, all work is done by hand. Sebastian is a chilled chap, and instills confidence. I think I'll be back."

17 Aug 17'

Maggie sevenoaks reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Fabulous location, excellent tuition, relaxed atmosphere and good fun all round"

15 Aug 17'

Bahdar Shokar reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A wonderful experience of 2 days in a beautiful setting with a lovely, friendly small group of people. I learned a lot about stone sculpture and about myself in the process. Sebastian was great and his sculptures are inspiring...."

14 Aug 17'

Garry Strudwick reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"I just did a weekend stone sculpture course and I'd never done anything like it before. I found it a very good introduction, and in a wonderful setting, if very basic facilities. Sebastian gave good advice to each individual as their projects progressed. A great weekend. I'll definitely do more stone-carving in the future."

10 Aug 17'

zoe avastu reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"A perfectly absorbing two days in a beautiful space. The course leader, Sebastian, allowed us time to 'play' before we began our projects which helped to overcome any anxiety we had and give us time to become familiar with the stone & tools. All abilities were catered for and Sebastian guided each person skillfully. He was relaxed, positive and sensitive to the needs of individuals in the group. The group was small (seven) and so we enjoyed finding out about each other over tea/lunch as well as enjoying the stillness that focused work engenders. I unreservedly recommend the course to young and old, to those with an artistic background and to those who feel they have little creativity. Everyone in our group created an amazing sculpture to take home-all very different from each other. Lots of relaxed, proud faces at the end of the day."