Clay Modelling: Portrait from Life

Learn the art of clay modelling and create a life-size portrait bust that captures both likeness and character. Discover the techniques and principles of working with clay, exploring its plastic properties to sculpt a 1:1 scale portrait. Under the guidance of David Horton, you'll learn about various tools, methods, and observational techniques necessary for accurately representing the subject in the studio.

The course begins with an introduction to the skeletal structure of the head, providing a foundation for the main project: sculpting a portrait likeness of the model. David will teach you essential measuring skills, including the use of callipers, contour templates, vertical and horizontal referencing, angle referencing, and close observation. These techniques will help you accurately capture the model's character in your sculpture.

You’ll learn how to apply clay to the armature, establish the overall proportional structure of the bust, and follow detailed demonstrations on sculpting specific features like lips, nose, ears, eyes, and hair. David offers group and individual critiques, using in-the-round analysis of both the model and the sculptures to help you refine your work.

Students are encouraged to apply their newfound skills to future drawings or paintings. Selected sculptures will be fired, allowing students to keep their finished works.

* The course fee incorporates the cost for materials such as clay.

* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students from ages 15 years and over. 

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below. 

David Horton is a contemporary sculptor who uses a modernist aesthetic to create strong and lyrical compositions and dialogues through the use of materials such as metal and steel. Horton has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture at the National Art School (NAS) in Sydney and is committed to teaching the next generation of Australian sculptors.

Horton has exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi over many years and has won several prestigious prizes in Australian sculpture over the past decade including Transfield Holdings Artist Grant Recipient in Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi (2019); first prize Sydney Airport 2000 Sculpture Award (1999); first prize Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi (2007) and the highly coveted National Helen Lempriere Sculpture Award for Emerging Artist (2010). David’s sculptures are in the collection of several regional galleries and private collections across Australia.

David is represented by Australian Galleries and his most recent exhibition was called Table Pieces and Works on Paper (2020).

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.