This training offers an immersion in the traditional techniques of decorative plasterwork, staff, and stucco, which are becoming increasingly rare today. Participants will discover the richness of these ancient skills, learn to distinguish their particularities, whether in terms of materials, tools, or techniques, and will be introduced, in the workshop, to concrete projects: staff molding and creating a marble stucco element.

Beyond technical training, the training encourages reflection on the place of these crafts in the current landscape of decorative arts, between heritage restoration and contemporary innovation. It also raises awareness of the importance of preserving these artisanal skills, essential to the transmission of cultural heritage.

By developing their manual precision, their eye for materials, and their creative capacity, trainees engage in an approach that is both educational and meaningful: to perpetuate an endangered artistic craft and contribute to shaping its future.

At the end of the training, the trainee will be able to:

• Recognize the different plastering techniques
• Distinguish between the different plaster techniques
• Identify the different stucco techniques
• Shape a small marble stucco element
• Make a plaster cast

The techniques taught by Éric Leblanc, long essential in the enhancement of architectural heritage, require great skill and a thorough understanding of materials. Today, they are taught only in a few specialized settings, making their transmission all the more urgent and essential.

By participating in this training, students will be invited to discover the foundations of these traditional crafts, understand their technical subtleties, and learn how to create decorative elements from plaster and marble stucco.

Through a historical, technical, and practical approach, they will be made aware of the cultural value of these skills, their role in heritage conservation, and their potential in contemporary creation.

Day 1

Morning

• Presentation of plastering, staff, and stucco in the lecture hall

Afternoon

• Continuation of the presentation in the lecture hall and finalization of individual projects (theoretical part)
• Preparation of the workshop with presentation of materials and tools
• Explanation of workshop safety rules

Day 2

Morning

• Demonstration of staff and stucco techniques
• Preparation of rabbit skin glue

Afternoon

• Group experimentation and preparation of individual projects

Days 3 and 4

• Supervised individual work by the trainer

Day 5

Morning

• Finalization of individual work
• Cleaning and tidying up the workshop

Afternoon

• Debriefing and end of training
• Presentation of productions

Éric Leblanc

Master plasterer and pass-on of expertise

Born in 1965, Éric Leblanc discovered the plasterer's trade at the age of 14 in Nantes. At 17, he joined the Compagnons du Devoir and began a ten-year Tour de France. This journey took him to France, but also to Germany and Italy, notably Venice and Florence, where he trained in modeling and stamping with masters of the Venetian school. These techniques lastingly enriched his approach to the craft.

In 1997, he founded his own workshop, Les Métiers du Plâtre, in Brain-sur-l'Authion, Anjou. In 2007, his company was awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) label, a national recognition that recognizes its expertise in the transmission and preservation of traditional craft techniques.

He pursues a dual activity: the restoration of historic monuments and contemporary creation. He participates in major projects, such as the reconstruction of the Baroque altarpiece in the chapel of the Château du Plessis-Blutière, which earned him the Grand Prix départemental de la restauration du patrimoine (Departmental Grand Prize for Heritage Restoration) in 2007. At the same time, he explores more daring forms, blending tradition and innovation, as evidenced by the creation in 2015 of a plaster dress worn at an event by Miss Pays de la Loire, the future Miss France.

Particularly committed to the transmission of his knowledge, he trains apprentices in his workshop, speaks at applied arts schools and universities, and regularly shares his expertise with the public, notably during the European Days of Crafts.

His commitment and the quality of his work have earned him several accolades, including the prestigious Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Hand Intelligence® in 2009 and the Jury's Favorite Prize at the Placo Trophies in 2019.

He embodies a demanding, vibrant, and generous vision of the crafts, where a passion for the hand is combined with a desire to share and innovate.

• Classroom, multipurpose room, workshops with professional equipment
• Materials provided
• Individual and collaborative work
• Workshop work
• Active participation and experimentation of participants are encouraged

Materials provided by the Campus:

• 6 25kg bags of Molda 3 normal casting plaster - various natural pigments

Specific materials provided by the instructor:

• Rabbit skin glue
• Mold release agent
• Vegetable fiber (sisal type)
• Various stucco sandpapers (value of materials approximately €150)

Equipment for Training

• Equipment provided by the Campus (for 12 trainees):
• 2 tables with a laminated top, approximately 1.20m x 2.50m - 3 round black bins, approximately 120 liters
• 3 12-liter buckets

Equipment provided by the instructor:

• Molding tools for plaster and stucco

• Collective and personalized monitoring of work, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Collective feedback
• Half-day attendance sheet
• Certification of completion issued by Campus MaNa