Wood Carving.—A school of art for wood carving has recently been established at the Albert Hall, South Kensington, where ladies can receive the thorough training which is essential to their success in this branch of art labour. Three years is the least time in which a fair knowledge of the art can be acquired by capable and industrious students, but at the end of the first year those who are clever may earn as much as ten or twelve shillings a week; when proficient, their earnings would probably be from £2 to £3 weekly, though in cases of exceptional talent, no doubt, considerably more might be occasionally earned.
There are very few highly skilled wood carvers in England, so there would be no difficulty in disposing of really good artistic work. The best plan for those unable to obtain permanent employment is to make small articles, such as blotting-books, photograph frames, glove-boxes, paper-knives, &c., take them to the large fancy shops, and offer them for sale. Upholsterers and picture-frame makers give regular employment to many; and when that can be obtained it is doubtless more satisfactory than anything else.
The rules of the school at the Albert Hall are as follows:—
Both day and evening classes are held in the school. The day classes are held from 10 to 1 and 2 to 5 on five days a week, and from 10 to 1 on Saturdays. The evening classes are held from 7 to 9 on four evenings a week, viz., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The fees for day students are £2 a month, or £5 a quarter. The fees for evening students are 15s. a month, or £2 a quarter.
There are at present twelve free studentships, viz., six in the day and six in the evening classes. Candidates must have passed the second grade art examination of the Science and Art Department in freehand drawing at least. Those who have some knowledge of wood carving, or have passed in the other subjects of the second grade art certificate, or in drawing from the antique and the figure, architectural drawing, or designing and modelling, will be preferred. Applications for these studentships should be addressed to the Secretary, at the school.
All students are required to provide their own tools, and work done in the schools by free students cannot be taken away. Students paying their own fees may take away work executed by themselves on their own materials, but all work on materials provided by the school remains the property of the school. Students who have been in the school not less than twelve months may, on the recommendation of the instructor, receive such payment for their work as the Committee may determine.
The tools students are required to provide themselves with, during the whole time they attend the school, cost about £2, but for 15s. they can procure enough to carry them over the first few months. The free studentships are for periods of six months, and are renewed to promising students. A taste for designing, and a considerable knowledge of drawing, are so desirable that I cannot conscientiously recommend any one without them to adopt wood carving as her profession, for although a certain degree of mechanical excellence might be obtained, it would not be sufficient to ensure a livelihood.
Mr. Donaldson, a member of the firm of Messrs. Gillow and Co., Oxford Street, takes a very great interest in the school, and kindly allows me to say that he intends to do all in his power to give employment to ladies competent to undertake it; but, of course, as the work required by his firm is of a superior kind, those anxious to obtain it must study until they can produce excellent work.
Wood Engraving.—To learn the art of wood-engraving thoroughly a long apprenticeship is absolutely necessary. All authorities agree in saying that students must not expect to earn anything at all for the first three years; after that time they may probably earn £1 a week, but should still continue their course of study for two years at least. There is not the slightest reason why women should not rival men in this branch of art, if they will give the necessary time to acquire it.
The work can very frequently be done at home, which is usually considered an advantage; but in that case ladies must make up their minds to work as steadily and for as many hours a day as they would under the eyes of a master; for certainly only those who could be depended upon for punctuality would be likely to obtain remunerative work.