| Course Code | SC2104053 |
|---|---|
| Tutor | David Klein |
| Course Dates | Monday - Friday, 1st - 5th August 2022 |
| Days | 5 |
| Times | 10.00am – 5.00pm |
| Experience Level | Advanced |
| Fee | £375 |
| Location | Art Academy London, 165A Mermaid Court, SE1 1HR |
Portrait sculpture is an immensely absorbing and enjoyable discovery with every new sitter. This course aims to build upon your previous experience [Intermediate/Advanced] to further how to observe and translate your observation into a clay portrait sculpture from a life model. Refresh, renew or find alternative ways of looking through group and individual discussion with your tutor, David Klein, member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors (MRBS) and the Society of Portrait Sculptors (SPS). Whether setting out a portrait head from a structural point of view with a clear path of constructive method and/or searching for a more expressive manner of approach, you will benefit from exploring with a professional sculptor to help build upon your own sculptural experience.
David Klein hopes to impart a few of the tools he has learnt and explore on this course that wonderful tension between finely rendered form and unworked chaos. Portraiture is a search. This search for form, truth and personality requires tools. From the force of the neck into the weight of the head, which in so many ways defines and marks exceptional sculpture. This course will explore the structure, turning points of form, emphasis and simplification. Please be aware that on Friday the class will finish at 4.50pm.
What level is this course?
This course is suitable for students at our Advanced level.
Other course levels include:
All attendees must be aged 18 or over.
What should I bring?
You should bring as much from the below list as possible. In some cases we can provide selected equipment:
- Wooden and/or metal modelling tools
- Callipers for measuring (medium-sized)
- Metal ruler and/or tape measure
- Wire cutter
- Water spray bottle
- Cocktail sticks
- Barbecue sticks
- Masking tape
- Hand-held mirror
- Black bin liner
- Drawing implement (pencil, pen, or charcoal)
- Sketchpad / loose leaf paper
- Apron or old clothing
- Camera for documenting your progress
At the end of the course students are given the option to leave their sculptures for hollowing and firing. There is a charge of £20 for hollowing and £20 for firing. Hollowing is necessary before a piece can be fired and the piece should normally be ready for collection about 12 weeks after the course ends. This is payable by card only before leaving the course. A form will need to be completed.
Note: you will need to bring your own life-size bust-peg/armature if you wish to take away your work and are not leaving it to be hollowed out and fired. The Art Academy provides bust pegs for the course, but these cannot be taken away as they are needed for future courses. There will not be an option to purchase these. You would need to decide how you are going to take your sculpture home (if you are not leaving for hollowing and firing). The best way is to carry in the boot of a car with ballast to weigh-down the base (bags of clay are ideal) or on the backseat with a pillow between the sculpture and car seat.
About Your Tutor
DAVID KLEIN MRBS SPS
was born in 1962. He started his working life in engineering, during which time he was fortunate to meet the sculptor John Jennings, and later become his assistant. This experience led him to make the bold step to further realise his passion for sculpting, by doing a Fine Art degree at Staffordshire University, from 1992-1994.
He continued his studies with a further two years at the Frink School of Sculpture doing a postgraduate course in figurative sculpting, from 1994-1996.
David now lives and carves on the South Coast of England, close to the quarries where he personally sources his materials.
‘David’s core belief is in form, and form is the beating heart of sculpture. His works is filled with life and bursting with energy. He has anchored his understanding in the things that matter and joins the select company of young sculptors who will make a real difference.’ (Martin Jennings FRBS, 2007)
David says of his work “Carving limestone is like carving through time, slowly revealing the sedimentary layers of this Jurassic rock which was laid down 600 million years ago under the sea.”
David has now had 6 solo exhibitions at the Thackeray Gallery and in 2007 showed his work at the V&A. In 2010 he was elected a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors (MRBS) and the Society of Portrait Sculptors (SPS). With the superb mentoring by Brian Taylor, David won the ‘Freakley Prize’ for outstanding portraiture and the masterclass prize at the Cork Street show.
WEBSITE
Location
Mermaid Court
165A Borough High Street
London SE1 1HR
tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969
Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Borough (both a 5 minute walk).
Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough High Street”.
Refreshments and Facilities
You are welcome to use our Common Room/ The Barn during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food.
Students will also be able to use the coffee machine, where free hot water, and paid-for hot drinks are available.
Students are encouraged to bring their own reusable mugs and water bottles where possible.
Further Details
- You will need to have paid in full before the first session of your class. Your place is not guaranteed until we have received full payment. Please book early in order to guarantee your place on the course.
- If you purchased a pack online this will be given to you on the first session of your course upon your arrival. Packs can be purchased on our Materials Page or on the individual course page when you make your booking.
- Please don’t wear your best clothes as there is always a chance you will get messy. If possible bring an apron or overalls.
- All artwork MUST be taken home at the end of the course or it will be disposed of. Paintings that need to dry should be collected within a week. For clay sculptures that need hollowing and firing, you will receive a separate email when they can be collected.
- Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off or is on silent during the class.
- Health and Safety Guidelines will be provided to you at the beginning of your class.
- Sometimes our photographer will pop in to get some images of our classes in progress. We will typically inform you beforehand if photography is taking place during your class; if you do not want to be photographed please let the photographer know!
- To find out more about what’s going on at the Academy follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. If you’d like to share images of your course, your progress or your finished work we’d love to see them! Please bear in mind you must have the permission of tutors, other students and models to photograph them.
- If you would like more information or advice on courses at the Academy please contact shortcourses@artacademy.org.uk.
- For further details please see our Short Courses: Regulations & Policies page.
