Clay, clay, glorious clay! There’s nothing quite like it for making your day!
Tactile, engaging and so wonderfully malleable – clay really is a wonderful material to work in. This class is lead by Karin Ort, who, armed with her expert eye will guide you through the process of creating the human form and portrait heads in clay.
Each term you will study three life models. Typically each model holds a single pose for three consecutive weeks. Following on from the 9 days of modelling, we have a final ‘finishing off’ week on the last week of the term should you need to touch up and finish your pieces a bit more.
With your muse positioned in the centre of room, you and your fellow students work from a model stand to steadily produce either a portrait or life study of the model. The model rotates every few minutes, giving you the chance to adjust your piece with them and thus see every profile. As time passes, you will start to develop your form, it is up to you whether you build up towards a likeness or work more abstractly. Either way, Karin is at hand every step of the way to guiding and showing you how to build up to a finished piece. Once your pieces have been finished, they will need to be dried out before being fired in one of our kilns.
No experience of clay modelling, sculpting or any other form of art is required to join this class, similarly though, if you have done it before, there will still be lots to learn. If you are experienced in capturing the human form already then do consider coming on our Thursday Untutored Clay Life Modelling Class. As well as coming to a clay life modelling day, do consider adding a morning of life drawing to your week too (taught by Jo Harris on Tuesdays). It will surprise you how much doing life drawing will improve your observational skills and thus sculpting!
The first term will kick off on the 17th January – perfect for all of you who will be wanting to set resolutions to become a ‘new, improved you’. What makes this New Years resolution different is that, unlike going to the gym, this will be a something you want to stick to! Come work alongside other creative folk, playfully learn something new and have fun.
This fun course includes:
- Informal, relaxed & attentive guidance for every student, provided by Karin Ort
- Working from from different life models, studying each model for three consecutive weeks each
Suitable for?
Anyone, regardless of experience – no younger than 17 years old though I am afraid. Please note that the life model will sometimes be undressed throughout the class.
What is included in the price?
- Ten full days’ teaching (10am-4:00pm)
- 3 professional life models
- Tea, coffee, biscuits/cake
- Tools can be provided if you need any during the class
- Use of a beautiful purpose-built art studio with all the equipment & materials you will need
- Beautiful countryside setting
This course is for you if:
- You want to draw with more confidence and learn new skills
- You want to explore the properties of clay, as well as understand the construction and firing process
- You want to improve your observational skills
- You want to improve your own artistic practise (even if you normally create in an entirely different medium entirely)
- You want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in a fun, creative environment
- You love creativity
- You want to spend time with a lovely bunch of people!
Term Dates and Times
Classes will take place on Wednesdays, between 10.00am – 4pm. Click here to see the 2024 mid week term dates.
What to bring?
A packed lunch and maybe an apron. Feel to bring your own tools and clay if you have your own, otherwise you can use ours.
Additional fees
There are additional fees for clay and firing of your work in our kilns.
- A bag of clay can range from approximately £10 to £25.
- The firing of work for students on this course is charged at a rate of £1.50/lb fired weight, per firing .
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Karin Ort
Karin is the cofounder of the Phoenix Studio. Always creative from a young age, Karin discovered clay modelling in 1995 when she started doing weekend courses with Mary Orrom at Great Missenden. She then studied for a part time National Diploma in ceramics and surface pattern at Barnfield College followed by starting an HNC in 3-dimensional design.
In 2004 she started running sculpture workshops at Peter Jones’ Phoenix Studio. These sessions proved to be popular and years later she has introduced many people to the delights of modelling in clay.
Karin has an exceptional eye for detail and is able to guide and encourage students through to reaching their creative potential. When not teaching at the studio, Karin produces her own work and sells it at exhibitions and through commissions.