about this workshop

This workshop will offer the participant to sculpt, from life, a human figure. All the necessary skills and processes will be discussed and demonstrated, including choosing an appropriate pose, armature building, basic anatomy, measuring, design, materials handling, surface finishing, design and characteristics of drapery, etc.

The first day will begin with an discussion about the process and what to consider when choosing a pose. Then, when the pose has been chosen, participants will build and pose an aluminium armature, using a combination of measuring and judging by eye (sight-size).

Day two will begin with a short discussion about the basic points of human anatomy as it pertains to the major forms and important anatomical landmarks, and a look at the design and characteristics of drapery. Following this the participants will block in the major forms of the figure.

The remaining days are spent modelling the figure, refining gesture, proportion, and surface finish.

OUTCOME: Participants will finish the workshop with a two-fifth life-size figure in clay, which they can photograph and leave to be recycled, or they can take it away with them. It is important to note however that the sculpture will still be wet at the stage, and will be quite heavy. A car/taxi will be needed to transport it. It should be noted that the clay is not stable in the long term, if participants want to preserve their work it will need to be moulded and cast. Alan can advise on this, but it is not covered in the workshop.

All skill levels welcome, even total beginners. However, people with a little bit of experience in representational/observational art will benefit the most and get the best outcomes.

Materials

All materials and tools will be provided during this workshop.

This does not include the price of the stand which will be used for each sculpture. These are reusable and can be returned to the tutor is the sculpture is being recycled. Alternatively it can be bought at the end of the workshop through the tutor at a cost of €40 per stand.

Meet alan

Alan Clarke is a sculptor and illustrator. He was born into a family of artists, and first became a commercial illustrator, before gradually evolving into fine art and then into sculpture. From the outset his work focused on the human form, in it's endless variety and complexity. Sculpting from life in clay, his work is energetic but sensitive. He combines a knowledge of materials and anatomy with an in-depth understanding of drawing, design, and three dimensional form. He has worked and taught in studios in Ireland, Italy, England, Spain, Canada and Russia. His award winning work has been exhibited all over the world, and a large collection is held in the national collection by the National Library in Ireland. He is the only Irish member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors. He gives regular sculpture workshops, and is a drawing tutor at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.