For Career Ice Carvers

Prerequisites:
None


This program is a pre-requisite for the Masters Program (CMIC).

This intensive program of private instruction is available year-round.
Reservations are available up to one year in advance with paid tuition.
Paul German will be happy to adapt your training schedule to best fit
your particular travel needs - such as flight arrival/departure times.

Previous art and design experience is beneficial, but not required,
as private instruction is tailored to your needs and experience.

AICD's comprehensive Certified Professional Ice Carver (CPIC) Program features five consecutive days (40 hours total) of intensive instruction that is divided into 30 hours of private instruction and approximately 20 hours of offsite design oriented coursework (to prepare for each day's carvings).

Our proven "total immersion" approach to individualized instruction is ideal for professional chefs and ice carvers from the United States and around the world who value the optimal use of their time, energy, and level of experience.

"A wealth of knowledge. Covers all aspects of starting an ice carving business. Your experience and stories that you share are priceless and cannot be found in any books. Also respect the fact that you let me make mistakes to figure it out on my own, but were there for help and assistance and all the answers. Also opened my eyes to art and the confidence that anyone can draw. I will never look at drawing the same way again." M. Cedric Bezanson, CCIC, Chef, Java U Catering, Quebec, Canada

Total Continuing Education Hours (CEH) for this program: 60 hours

AICD also offers a special training opportunity for students traveling a long distance. Due to the time and cost of traveling long distances to attend AICD, students have requested that we combine an additional day with the complete Professional Program while they are here. This has proven to be very beneficial for students, both in developing additional skills and in saving money. Plus, the extra ten hours of instruction will be added to your CEH’s on your CPIC certificate.

 

AICD's Lifetime Certification Guarantee: Due to AICD's proven "hands on" approach to comprehensive instruction and its stature as a private school, you can earn each level of AICD Certification for life with no certification fees, no yearly fees, and no membership requirements. To maintain the integrity of AICD's educational programs, activities such as attendance at conventions, competitions, and related activities cannot be counted for receiving AICD Certification. A carver's unique experiences may, however, qualify as the prerequisite for enrolling in AICD's advanced instructional programs.

"Dear Paul & Robin, Let me begin by stating that my research, time, and effort paid off! By contacting the ''best'' in the culinary field, the Culinary Institute of America, I was referred to only the best! To take on the challenge of learning a whole new platform in my profession, compromising my instruction was not an option. As an Executive Pastry & Sous Chef, adding Ice Carving would only enhance my career. Being taught by the # 1 top recommended instructor, I couldn't fail personally or professionally! I can proudly say with taking your Certified Professional Ice Carver (CPIC) Program, I exceeded all my expectation's! The intense physical and mental training I received during my visit can only be described as a once in a lifetime opportunity - one that every Chef should have in his or her career. As the old saying goes, ''You get what you pay for.'' My company paid for the best, and without any doubt, received the best. Completing your program has given me the confidence and ability to set new goal's, tapping into my artistic creativity. I had such a wonderful experience in such a short time - your hospitality, easy going atmosphere, and most importantly, your patience to teach any Chef who has a passion to be challenged on every level. Thank you again for making all thing's possible. I look foward to seeing you and Robin again when I complete my next level in your program! Your knowledge is priceless and I'm deeply greatful that you offer it to other's." Lynn Debra Gouveia, CPIC, Executive Pastry & Sous Chef, Dunes Club - Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Be sure to read what chefs and career ice carvers have shared about their experience at AICD.

Here is an overview of many of the topics and skills
you will learn in the Certified Professional Ice Carver Program:

Note: AICD's state-of-the-art instructional methods are renown for providing the
ultimate "hands-on" experience for achieving mastery of each objective!

• Studio design and considerations
• Starting and building a business, insurance and liability issues
  
• How to get paid what you're worth
• Principles of effective advertising and marketing
• Secrets of dynamic media relations
• Appropriate use of ice carving books and online resources for design ideas
• Secrets of learning how to draw with confidence regardless of previous experience
• Developing drawing skills
• Precision carving techniques and tools
• Developing artistic awareness and the ability to visualize 3 dimensional images
• Developing the ability to sculpt in 3 dimensions
• Sharpening, custom bits, and modern ice carving tool innovations
  
• Tricking out tools for added comfort and speed
• Safety skills related to lowering, lifting, splitting, carving, delivery, and set-up
  
• Enlarging techniques for any circumstance
• Beginning to advanced design principles
• Designing ice sculptures for banquets and promotions
  
• Secrets of fast and easy templates - both custom and from ice carving books
• Secrets of stacking and fusing for unique effects and dire circumstances
• Maximizing the block for creativity
• Safe and creative use of the Clinebell Ice Block maker, hoist, and related equipment
  
• Casting fruit, vegetables, flowers, photographs, etc. into a Clinebell Ice Block
• Secrets of special effect coloring
• Secrets of inlays
• Secrets of closed-celled, snow-filled, and multiple level corporate logos
• Trouble-free ice beverage luges
• Safely taking your ice sculptures to the limit of lightness
• Pushing the limit of dynamic balance and tension without compromising safety
• Creating the illusion of depth to reduce weight
• Timing and scheduling considerations when working with
  advanced engraving, ice painting, gel, and stone inlay techniques
• Designing and safely moving complex multi-block ice sculptures
• Adapting the medium of ice for advanced ice sculpture presentations
  
• Considerations for adjusting your final design for time, temperature, and atmosphere
• Custom display equipment and safe setup techniques
• Secrets of ice sculpture special effects such as safe mid-air suspension
• Ice sculpture instruction includes photography techniques
• Secrets of the critical art of safely transporting ice carvings
  
  ...the list of topics and techniques goes on!

Based upon the student's previous art training (whether beginning or advanced), offsite coursework is individually developed to meet the particular needs of each student in order to make his or her preparation for the next day's instructional activities as beneficial and enjoyable as possible. Textbooks, drawing aids, clay, modeling tools, and other materials are furnished upon arrival at AICD for this offsite coursework.

Our Certified Professional Ice Carver (CPIC) Program is designed to teach a broad range of safe ice carving skills, art skills, and technologies needed by professional chefs, culinary students, and ice carvers in order to meet the modern ice carving needs of the hospitality industry. Ice carving instruction includes hands-on experience with many of the most advanced and celebrated techniques used by professional ice sculptors around the world today.

This remarkable program provides one-to-one personalized instruction that is tailored for each student's experience and future objectives. Private instruction ensures that student carvers of any level receive far more actual training and individual guidance than is possible within group ice carving classes. It also provides a much safer and more productive learning environment for developing the advanced art skills needed for highly realistic and creative multi-block construction.

Comprehensive ice carving instruction is condensed into a four-day program.

This incredible value is ideal for meeting the needs of ice sculpture companies, culinary schools, hotels, country clubs, caterers, and restaurants.

Our private, one-on-one instruction is available for highly motivated ice carvers who want to advance at a rate that is optimum for their learning style, skill, and level of experience. Private instruction can be adapted to suit the individual carver's schedule.

AICD's training/certification programs are a valuable way to earn points
for NICA's and ACF's certification programs, which are independent of AICD.

Note:
The art of ice carving involves the use of tools and equipment that are inherently dangerous. To meet the safety-related needs of professional ice sculpture companies, ice carving schools, hotels, country clubs, and caterers, a high priority is given to the development of safe carving, delivery, and set-up practices. This program requires that the carver be in excellent health, and must be physically able to work with heavy materials and equipment for prolonged periods of time in both warm and cold environments.

The ice carving industry is growing at a phenomenal rate in the U.S and around the world. AICD is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive ice sculpture training possible for ice sculpture companies, hotels, caterers, country clubs, and culinary schools seeking to employ highly qualified, professionally certificated chefs, ice carvers, and sales associates.

AICD is fully CCR approved and registered to provide training to all
branches of the Federal Government, including the Department of Defense