On this practical introduction to sculptural form, you will explore techniques of modelling with wax and clay to ‘build up’ your form, and carving clay to ‘take away’. The aim is to create works with balance and energy. Discussion is encouraged and will support your continued exploration. This course is a good stepping stone to one of the longer sculpture courses.
Materials and techniques covered:
- Use of wax and clay as additive sculptural modelling materials
- Use of clay and (small) soft stone as sculptural blocks to introduce carving
- Observation and sensitive modelling from life with a range of appropriate tools
- Use of sketchbook drawing, note-taking and doodling, linking to sculpture
- Maquettes, sketches or planned models for sculpture
You will learn through experience, reference and group discussion. Topics are introduced with practical exercises, which everyone will participate in and discuss together - a flexible balance of practical and discussion.
On the first evening, there will be a lighthearted introductory gallop through recent sculptural history, supported by slide material and other references, followed by group discussion.
By the end of the course, you should achieve:
- A basic grounding in non-conceptual sculpture, and the ideas of form and mass being viewed ‘in the round'
- A feeling for how sculptors use reference material, such as the figure, environment or the imagination
- A feeling for sculpture being viewed as a balance between the material and the sculptor's intention
- An understanding of three or four materials and their qualities and practicalities for modelling
- Use of two of the above (including small pieces for kiln firing); others to be explored after the course
- An understanding of two or three materials and their qualities and practicalities for carving
- Use of clay for a carving exercise (and selecting a soft stone to take home)
- An understanding of sculptural devices; using light and shade, proportion and how sculptures might 'work' (or not)
You do not need to be able to draw or sculpt for this course, just to be enthusiastic about trying a little of everything. Have a look at the tutor’s background on www.jonedgar.co.uk, so you have an idea where he is coming from in his own work, which spans stone-carving and modelling in clay.
