Introduction to Clay Figurative Sculpture

Body language, movement, and expression are what give life to any structure and the medium of clay gives you the opportunity to explore them. Ceramic artist Cristina Córdova specializes in figurative sculpting, combining ceramic construction techniques with traditional modeling. She plays with both naturalism and abstraction to explore the human figure. Cristina has won several International Association of Art Critics Awards, and her work is part of a number of permanent collections across the US.

In this course she shows you how to hand sculpt a hollow ceramic bust using the slab building technique. Learn the foundations of building a three-dimensional form, and explore anatomy, gesture, and expression to bring your sculpture to life. See how slabs of clay can become a work of true beauty.

Get to know Cristina Córdova as she explains her background in sculpture and ceramic art. She also shares details of the fellow artists who inspire her and how their work influences hers.

Familiarize yourself with the slab building method as Cristina gives you an overview, then look at the materials and tools needed for the course. Next, prepare your sculpting workspace, and hear Cristina’s advice on surfaces, lighting, and how to keep it clean. Finish your preparation by understanding the role of templates in the structural process. Then, print, cut, and assemble the templates for your piece.

Begin working with your clay. First make your flat slabs and cut them using your templates from earlier. Then, delve into anatomy as Cristina shows you how to use your slabs to structure and shape the upper torso and neck of your bust. Move on to the most intensive part of the process: the sculpting of the head. Learn the breakdown of proportions with generic measurements, and how to develop expressive facial features.

Discover how to assemble your parts to build a sculpture with character and a strong gesture, by using a mix of diagram references and experimentation. Cristina also teaches you to use a joining slip to attach your components, and how to sculpt over the transitions to create a cohesive, flowing composition.

Use fresh clay to build upon your sculpture, and carve the details and contours that will bring it to life and make it unique. Refine, smooth, and clean the surface of your piece using cloth and brushes to create the illusion of skin. End the course by preparing your bust for firing following Cristina’s advice and guidance.

Create a hollow ceramic bust, including head, neck and upper torso, through the use of simple patterns and the slab building technique.

This course is for anyone interested in working with the medium of clay, from beginners in the craft, to sculptors who want to explore hollow construction.

No previous experience is needed.

In terms of materials, you will need paper, sculpture clay, a scoring tool, a clay knife, a wire tool, paddle, ribs, and other materials specified by the teacher in the course.