Sculpting the portrait: Likeness and Expression

Working from a life model, create a portrait bust that captures both likeness and character. Under the guidance of Monika Scarrabelotti, explore the principles and techniques of portrait sculpture in clay, from establishing form and structure to refining features. Develop a deeper understanding of the human head through observation and analysis.

Participants are welcome to approach portrait sculpture in either an objective or expressive way. Monika will teach essential measuring and observation techniques, including vertical and horizontal referencing, proportion, angle comparison and close study of the model. These methods will help students accurately capture likeness and character while building confidence in working from life.

Learn how to apply clay to an armature and establish the overall structure and proportions of a portrait bust. Through demonstrations, Monika will guide students in modelling key facial features such as the eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Group and individual critiques, together with in-the-round analysis of both the model and the sculpture, will help students refine their observational skills and sculptural decisions.

Those interested in a more expressive approach will be encouraged to look at modernist sculptors such as Matisse and Picasso, whose work explores the playful abstraction of form. Monika will support students to simplify and exaggerate features while maintaining a strong sense of character and composition. Students will explore how sculptural form can communicate expression, presence and identity. Explore different approaches to portraiture, from close observation to simplification, exaggeration and abstraction. Drawing on examples from traditional and modern sculpture, consider how form can communicate character and presence.

In the final stage of the course, students will learn how to prepare their sculpture for firing. This includes cutting the work open, removing excess clay and hollowing the form to a suitable thickness, before reassembling the pieces.

Suitable for beginner and intermediate levels, this course provides a solid foundation in portrait modelling while offering opportunities for more experienced students to extend their technical and creative approaches to sculpture.

Course Schedule

The following is an indicative course schedule only. The content and pace of the sessions may vary in response to the students in the program.

Day 1: Structure and Observation
Introduction to the studio, materials, tools and working from a life model. Students will begin with observational drawings, to familiarise themselves with the model. Building directly onto an armature, students will apply clay to create the overall mass and scale of the portrait bust. Demonstrations will be given to use a variety of modelling tools.

Days 2 and 3: Establishing Likeness and Modelling the Features
Continue developing the portrait, focusing on overall proportions and structure. Sculpting key facial features such as the eyes, nose, mouth and ears will be taught through demonstrations and individual guidance.

Day 4: Finalise the Sculpture
The final day working with the life model. Individual critiques will be given to establish what needs to be done to finalise sculptures.

Day 5: Hollowing and Preparation for Firing
Learn how to hollow the sculpture and prepare it for firing. At the end of the course students are welcome to leave their sculptures at NAS to be fired and picked up at a later date.

* Short courses and weekend workshops are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students between 15 - 17 years of age.

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

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

• Basic drawing materials: sketchbook, pencils, eraser etc
• Students are encouraged to bring any clay modelling tools they already have.
• Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.