Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 5 · column 3 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
In addition to historical restorations and custom work in private homes, Robson conducts classes in the art of faux marbre and faux bois. He ran a three-day program for the Smithsonian last year and in February, taught a one-day course in New York for apprentices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
He's available for $500. That covers a day-long workshop, whether for one student or a group of as many as 20. the limit he feels he can handle at one time. Each participant brings a piece of furniture already painted with a base coat.
"In the morning, we practice strokes on boards and in the afternoon, 1 guide them through doing their own piece." The instruction doesn’t turn a beginner into a master but his students learn enough to enjoy woodgraining and marbelizing.
The Robson children —eight and 10-year-old sons and a year-old daughter — are still too young to decide whether they want to follow the family heritage for a sixth generation.
"It’s dp to them if they want to learn. They won’t be forced but it’s there if they want to do it,” Malcolm said.
One hopes that they’ll take advantage of the opportunity, and that Malcolm Robson won't be the last practitioner of what is becoming a lost art.
88.1%