Evening Sculpture Courses

Our new 8-week Evening Portrait Sculpture Course, led by the academically trained sculptor Ekaterina Kovalenko, serves as both an ideal introduction to sculpting for beginners and a valuable opportunity for experienced sculptors looking to refine their expertise in creating lifelike portraits.

Kovalenko's approach seamlessly integrates direct observation with constructive analysis of form, uniting visual perception with in-depth knowledge of the subject. Throughout the course, participants will engage in sculpting from a life model, exploring the nuances of gesture, proportions, anatomy, and the subtle plane changes of the human head.

The primary goal of the course is to guide participants in creating a realistic portrait that faithfully reflects the likeness of the sitter while advancing their observational and sculpting skills.

Through hands-on demonstrations, personalized guidance, and constructive feedback, participants will progressively master sculpting techniques, moving from basic shapes to intricate details.

At the end of the course, the resulting portrait sculpture may be fired at an extra cost outside of class. Alternatively, the participants may choose to join the additional Mold-Making & Casting Course, where they will learn the techniques of rubber molding and cast their projects in a durable material. Learn more about the Mold-Making & Casting Course.

Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

In this course, you will learn:

• Fundamentals of traditional sculpture

• Essential sculpture tools, materials, and equipment

• Proper observation of objects in three dimensions

• Anatomy and structure of the human head

• Realism and likeness of a portrait from a life model

• Gesture, proportions, linear qualities, and forms

• Principles of composition and aesthetic ideals

Included in the Course:

• All materials and equipment

• Starter Tool Kit

• Instruction in English

• 22 hours with the portrait model

• Drinks and snacks

Sculpting the Portrait from Life is a 10-week course designed to introduce the participants to the fundamentals of traditional sculpture. Thanks to the small-group format and an individual teaching approach adopted by the instructor, the lessons are well suited for the participants with all levels of sculpting experience.

The course focuses on the study of a human head and the art of portraiture. Under the expert guidance of the principal instructor, the participants begin by copying a skull model in order to understand the internal framework underlying the superficial forms of a human head. Equipped with the essential knowledge of anatomy, students are then prepared to work from a life model.

The emphasis is placed on the method of direct observation and careful analysis of the object. The offered technique is aimed at translating the complex visual information into a clear structure that helps achieve an accurate depiction of the model in three dimensions. Participants learn to capture the distinct character of a person’s head by focusing on the gesture, proportions, linear qualities and forms. In addition, the course involves the study of basic principles of composition and aesthetic ideals to help the participants bring their sculptures to the level of completed works of art.

At the end of the course the participants may choose to join the additional Mold-Making & Casting Course where they will learn the techniques of rubber molding and cast their projects in a durable material. Learn more about the Mold-Making & Casting Course.

In this course you will learn

• Fundamentals of traditional sculpture

• Essential sculpture tools, materials and equipment

• Proper observation of objects in three dimensions

• Anatomy and structure of human head

• Realism and likeness of a portrait from a life model

• Gesture, proportions, linear qualities and forms

• Principles of composition and aesthetic ideals

Included in the Course

• All materials and equipment

• Starter Tool Kit

• Instruction in English

• 24 hours with the portrait model

• Drinks and snacks

This 10-week course offers participants the sculpting experience of the 1/2 life-size torso from a life model. The lessons takes place in the context of the small-group format and are therefore well suited for the participants with all skill levels.

Torso is an exciting genre of figurative sculpture that provides a unique opportunity of an in-depth study of the human form and its aesthetic qualities. Anatomically speaking, torso is the core of the human body consisting of the two major masses: pelvis and rib cage, that are connected by the spinal column. The position of these structures relative to one another determines the overall gesture of a figure. Therefore, the close study of the torso and its proportions is a crucial step in the mastery of figurative sculpture. The 1/2 life-size scale of the project is selected to affirm an intuitive approach based on the careful observation, rather than direct measurements from the life model. The abstract quality of the subject lays the focus entirely on the dynamic pose and the expressiveness of form.

The course will begin with an extensive lecture on the anatomy of the human body and the development of a small-scale torso maquette. The rest of the lessons are dedicated to sculpting from a life model under the professional guidance of the instructor.

At the end of the course the participants may choose to join the additional Mold-Making & Casting Course where they will learn the techniques of rubber molding and cast their projects in a durable material. Learn more about the Mold-Making & Casting Course.

In this course you will learn

• Fundamentals of traditional sculpture

• Essential sculpture tools, materials and equipment

• Proper observation of objects in three dimensions

• Anatomy and structure of the human body

• Assessment of the pose and gesture

• Proportions, linear qualities and forms of the torso

• Advanced concepts of modeling

• Principles of composition and artistic decision-making

Included in the Course

• All materials and equipment

• Starter Tool Kit

• Instruction in English

• 24 hours with the life model

• Drinks and snacks

This course focuses on sculpting the 1/2 life-size full figure in clay from a life model. The lessons take place in the small-group format and are tailored to meet the needs of the participants with all levels of sculpting experience.

The representation of the human figure in art is a millennia-old tradition, dating back to the humanity’s earliest cultural expressions. Not surprisingly, it is also regarded as the pinnacle of the art of figurative sculpture. This course offers the participants the unique opportunity to explore the internal structure and complexity of human form in three dimensions.

The first lessons are dedicated to the study of the human anatomy and the practical exercises, designed to help the participants understand the internal framework of the body before facing the challenge of sculpting from life. The rest of the course is centered on completing the 1/2 life-size figure from a life model under the guidance of the principal instructor. The emphasis is placed on capturing the convincing gesture, proportions, linear qualities and volumetric forms of the human body. The advanced principles of composition and artistic decision-making are addressed to help the participants express their individuality and elevate their sculptures to the level of completed works of art.

At the end of the course the participants may choose to join the additional Mold-Making & Casting Course where they will learn the techniques of rubber molding and cast their projects in a durable material. Learn more about the Mold-Making & Casting Course.

In this course you will learn

• Fundamentals of traditional sculpture

• Essential sculpture tools, materials and equipment

• Proper observation of objects in three dimensions

• Anatomy and internal structure of the human body

• Assessment of the pose and gesture

• Proportions, linear qualities and forms of the figure

• Principles of composition and artistic decision-making

Included in the Course

• All materials and equipment

• Starter Tool Kit

• Instruction in English

• 27 hours with the life model

• Drinks and snacks