Intro to Sculpting

Perfect for anyone wanting their first experience of sculpting with clay, or to expand their knowledge from a previous beginner workshop or course.

This course will provide skills to build on and take forward onto more ambitious projects.

Suitable for: Complete beginners or those who wish to improve their sculpting skills.

Making sculpture is an enjoyable, expressive and experimental process, tuning in to our own emotions. Results may not always be visually precise, but to the observer they can radiate presence, and this is true of any successfully captured figure; from Rodin’s The Thinker, to Nick Park’s Wallace & Gromit.

In each of the four weekly sessions, you will follow course tutor Helen Ashton's demonstrations to explore and develop two small, three-dimensional figures.

Ceramic construction techniques to convey characteristics and gestures will be combined with comparative measurement and observational study to capture proportion and emotion.

Throughout the course you will work towards developing knowledge of:

• Small-scale quick studies
• Transforming drawings or photos into three-dimensional seated or lying down forms - Create a plinth, add texture
• Understanding the importance of movement or gesture within a study
• Try blocking and line techniques to ensure balance and fluidity

At the end of the course you will have completed two small reclining or seated studies on plinths, of approximate 15 x 10 x 15cm, maximum dimensions.

Further details

This course is open to adults (16+). The cost includes instruction, materials and the items you make to take home, which will be fired for you. Refreshments and drinks are included.