Figure sculpture in clay

Throughout the course, you should expect to set up, model and finish a clay study of a nude figure. You can expect to see your personal style developing, with the tutor encouraging your response to the model, but, even more importantly, the aim of the course is to develop key sculpting skills, especially:

Improved observational skills of the life model
An increased understanding of basic human anatomy
Some confidence about how to handle clay, and to plan and make a structurally-sound sculpture
Increased confidence to make decisions so as to make interesting forms in clay
The ability to stand back and assess your work, and move forward towards a conclusion
The tutor will move around the class throughout the day, teaching mostly one-to-one, but with some group demonstrations of technique, for example:

How to use tools to create different effects
Some aspects of figure modelling
Hollowing out the figure in preparation for firing
There will also be a short session of quick sketching exercises to help stimulate your observational skills. The ability to draw is not a pre-requisite.

By the end of the course, you will have learned to set up, model and finish a clay study of a nude figure from observation.