About the Artist
Who is Michael Tine?
Michael Tine is a figurative stone sculptor and painter based in Ventura, California. He has carved stone for about forty years and painted for more than fifty. He came to art through philosophy rather than art school and describes the work as “philosophy by other means.”
Where is Michael Tine’s studio?
His studio is at WAV, Working Artists Ventura, Building 175, Studio 108, in Ventura, California. He also works at Art City Studios in Ventura. Studio visits are by appointment.
Is Michael Tine a Ventura artist?
Yes. He has worked in Ventura for more than seventeen years, at WAV and at Art City Studios, and the Ventura stone-carving community is central to his practice.
Is Michael Tine a Los Angeles sculpture artist?
He is based in Ventura, in the greater Los Angeles region, and teaches stone carving in Los Angeles at American Jewish University and the Skirball Cultural Center.
About the Work
What does Michael Tine sculpt?
Figurative work, carved by hand in stone. Mostly marble, also limestone, alabaster, travertine, and soapstone. He prefers to work at scale.
What materials does Michael Tine work in?
Primarily marble, with limestone, alabaster, travertine, and soapstone. The material for a given piece is chosen for size and for what is inside the block.
What is direct carving?
Direct carving means working the stone itself, by hand, without a full preparatory model dictating every point. For his personal work the form is found by cutting rather than copied from a finished maquette. The decisions happen in the stone.
Are Michael Tine’s paintings for sale?
No. He intends to keep the painting work intact and donate it to an institution or benefactor who will exhibit it. As he puts it, “Art belongs to everybody.” The sculpture is sold; the paintings are not.
Where can I see Michael Tine’s work?
Through this site, and at exhibitions and open studios in Ventura. Studio visits are by appointment.
Commissions
How do I commission a Michael Tine sculpture?
Start an inquiry through the contact form with the idea, the setting, the scale, and your timeline. The first step is a consultation about whether and how the idea suits hand carving in stone.
How much does a Michael Tine sculpture cost?
Pricing is by inquiry. It depends on material, scale, and complexity. There are no published prices.
How long does a marble sculpture take to carve?
It depends on scale and the stone. A substantial hand-carved piece takes months, not days. The schedule is agreed during consultation.
Can I commission a specific subject or material?
Yes, within what stone allows at the scale and setting you have in mind. The subject and material are worked out together before any substantial carving begins.
Teaching
Where can I take stone carving classes in Los Angeles?
Michael teaches stone carving at American Jewish University (Whizin Center) and at the Skirball Cultural Center (Nazarian Fine Arts, Milken East Campus). He also takes a small number of private students.
Do I need experience to take a stone carving class?
No prior stone experience is assumed for the introductory classes. The teaching covers tools, the behavior of the stone, and finding the form by working.
Visiting and Contact
Can I visit Michael Tine’s studio in Ventura?
Yes, by appointment. Use the contact form to arrange a visit.
How do I contact Michael Tine?
Use the contact form on this site, or call the studio at (714) 330-3881. Inquiries for commissions, press, studio visits, teaching, and the painting collection are all handled there.