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Why I Chose Stone: My Path to this Timeless Craft

I didn’t set out to become a stonemason. In fact, I nearly became a carpenter. Back in tenth grade, I had just finished school in Germany and was looking to begin my Ausbildung . I’d planned to train as a Tischler (joiner/carpenter) at the Meisterschule für Handwerker in Kaiserslautern, but the class was full. I was told I could spend a year in another trade at the school and then transfer. So, one day soon after the bad news, I wandered the school halls, unsure where I was headed, just trying to find a direction, a Trade I could spend a year in passing time. That’s when I met Mr. G. He saw me walking around and stopped to ask what I was doing there. I told him the situation. He nodded, then smiled and said, “Come with me.” What followed was a tour — not just of rooms, but of a world I didn’t know existed: the Steinmetz Abteilung , the stonemasonry department. It was in a separate part of the school I hadn't even seen before. He showed me the chisel-scarred stones, the forged tool...
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My Journey so Far

I began my formal path in the trades in Germany, where I completed a rigorous stonemasonry apprenticeship (Ausbildung) at the Meisterschule für Handwerker Kaiserslautern. Initially interested in carpentry, I was introduced to stonemasonry by chance—and that chance became a calling. Over the course of three years, I trained in a wide range of disciplines including traditional hand carving, architectural geometry, restoration work, and technical drawing.

After earning my Gesellenbrief (journeyman’s certificate), I chose to continue my education and craft by pursuing and completing the German Meisterbrief in stonemasonry. This certification is the highest professional qualification in the German system of skilled trades and includes advanced training in design, project management, business operations, and instruction. The Meister title also qualifies me to train apprentices and manage heritage-grade work on historic structures.

My hands-on experience includes work on historic German Churches and other buildings, including restoration and conservation projects on ecclesiastical stonework. I’ve developed and executed independent design projects, including a Gesellenstück and Meisterstück—the traditional journeyman’s and master’s pieces required for certification—each reflecting precision, symbolism, and the tradition of the craft.

Alongside my technical and artistic training, I have gained practical experience in forging tools, working with plaster and clay in sculpture, and studying the geometry and sacred proportions behind Gothic and Romanesque architecture.

This blog serves both as a portfolio and a way to share what I’ve learned—and continue to learn—as I work to keep the tradition of stone alive and relevant in the modern world. As I continue my dedication to this craft I will update this page.