This course will teach you how to sculpt in clay a portrait from photos. You will be provided with front and profile life-size photos of a model to work from, alternatively you can bring your own photos to work from. If you would like to do this please ensure your photos are life-size, and you have several from different angles, including profile and front on. You will learn how to measure accurately from your photos with use of the dividers, the plumb line and a laser level. Andrew will also talk you through methods of sculpting historical figures and subjects from photo where sculpting from life is not possible.

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.

The first part of course teaches the basics of making a reusable rubber mould from flexible silicone rubber with a supporting hard jacket made with jesmonite which can be used to produce up to 20 casts of a sculpture. Skills taught are based on practical and safe application methods of both silicone rubber* and polyester jesmonite materials, including building seam walls, mixing and the application of silicone rubber, key making, mixing and applying the jesmonite jacket, and finally cleaning and dismantling the mould. The second part of the course teaches practical skills in the use of jesmonite to cast a sculpture from the rubber mould and the addition of materials such as bronze powder, showing the different finishes that can be achieved as well as the removal and repair of seam-lines, ready for patination and waxing.

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, Hazel Reeves MRBS SWA FRSA, who is a Member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, on the Council of the Society of Women Artists and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts . 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. Hazel will take you through the tried-and-tested method she uses to set up a life-size portrait for a commission. This approach ensures the portrait is structurally-sound before moving-on to working on the detail of features. A likeness will slowly emerge over the five days. There will be the option to leave your finished sculpture for hollowing and firing for an additional fee.

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 experienced tutor, Ellen Christiansen, member of Society of Portrait Sculptors, winner of the 2014/15 Founders’ Sculpture Prize and winner of Heatherley's Prize 2018. Setting out a head from a structural point of view with a clear path of constructive method of approach, you will benefit from exploring with a professional sculptor to help build upon your own sculptural progression.

This course is a rare opportunity to work on a full life-size figure within a small class size. Working with a variety of figure sculptors, students will develop and hone the skills required to produce large scale figure work. Sculpting in both a guided environment from direct observation of a life model, as well as learning how to work self-directed without a model, you will spend a month fully immersed in the sculpting process. The course is made of two parts: in part 1 (weeks 1 – 4), you’ll concentrate on modelling your sculpture, before moving onto moulding and casting in part 2 (weeks 5 & 6). If you prefer, you can choose to join part 1 only (although please note you will need to have completed part 1 to join part 2 of this course). To apply for this course, please send an email with a few images of your figurative sculpture work to laura@artacademy.org.uk or contact the Art Academy team at shortcourses@artacademy.org.uk