The Creative Mix is an ideal way to explore a variety of artistic methods. Over the five days, students will work through various exercises in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. This is a great ‘taster’ course and an excellent opportunity to both develop skills and get creative with your own ideas.

This course focuses on teaching students to use the human form to express emotion, energy and character through working on a series of sculptures. Students will focus on understanding how to use different forms and compositions to express the character of the pose and to understand subtlety in the choice in forms, textures and materials. This course offers students an opportunity to work with different materials, to try something a bit different and loosen up your sculptural techniques. It is suitable for beginners to advanced students. Our experienced tutor will show beginners a step-by-step approach to figure modelling, and will work with more advanced students to push their work forward in their own way. Working with small dynamic standing poses in Super Sculpey as well as two seated poses in clay.

A comprehensive introduction to the various techniques of kiln formed glass as well as a brief study of the history of glass-making. This is an all round opportunity to experiment with ideas and technical glass making skills from a sculptural perspective that progresses to completing an independent project. The course covers model and mould making using a variety of mould making materials, approaches kiln formed glass techniques and starting points such as open casting, fusing and slumping. You will be taught how to cut, clean and arrange glass in preparation for fusing and slumping into a basic bowl shape. A short project will be set to encourage you to adopt an experimental approach using mould making refractory open cast processes. You will be shown how to use coloured glass to create a 3D sculptural glass form of your own design. You will be taught through demonstration, group and individual instruction and learn from hands on experience. Through looking at both contemporary and historical works you will discover the potential of the medium of glass.

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

This practical course is suitable for beginners and experienced artists who want to experiment with metal cast sculpture. Pewter is a metal that can be cast and finished in your own studio, with relatively basic equipment, and without the need of a foundry. Pewter is a silver coloured tin metal alloy which melts at low temperatures. During the course you will model a sculpture in wax, learn how to cast in pewter using plaster waste moulds and the ‘lost wax’ casting technique. Bring your own ideas or come with an open mind and be inspired to work with new materials and sculpture techniques. This is a practical workshop based course with one to one and group guidance from the tutor.

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.

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 tutor, Jane Hamilton, who is a Member of Society of Portrait Sculptors. Through the week you will be working from a model,  and create a finished piece for subsequent firing. There will be the option to leave your finished sculpture for hollowing and firing for an additional fee.

This is the ideal dual opportunity to have a full sculptural experience over 5 days, of both figure modelling in clay and working in plaster and mixed media to develop your own creative idea. For three days you will be working in clay from a life model, learning observational and measuring techniques of the figure. The following two days begin with both practical and thought provoking exercises followed by your own creative time and freedom to realise and develop an individual interest. This combination of sculptural techniques and skills provides a broad approach for further sculptural progression. The course is suitable for those with no previous experience or those who wish to develop further.

Designed for both beginners and more experienced students, this interesting new course looks at the power of the needle and the ways stitch has been used as a tool of subversion. With the rise in popularity of textile art and blurring of the distinction between fine art and craft, the possibilities of this medium are endless and unexpected. You'll learn techniques and processes, explore how they can be used in your own work, and engage in discussion about what it means to use stitch in fine art practice in the 21st century. The classes are structured; in the morning there will be a presentation of the techniques being taught that day as well as contemporary artists who use these processes in their work. This will show you the possibilities of stitch and embroidery, both as an end in themselves and a way of adding texture and dimension to your artwork. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to experiment with the techniques that have been taught or use them to work on a personal project.