Intro to Sculpting from Life Workshop

In this session, we turn our focus to the art of seeing in three dimensions. Sculpting from life demands a heightened awareness of form, proportion and subtle variation. Through direct observation of the human figure, you will learn to translate what you see into tactile form using oil-based clay, your hands, and a small selection of tools.

We’ll explore how artists train their eyes to perceive structure: identifying silhouette and contour, using consistent points of measurement, and applying reference marks to maintain accurate relationships across the figure. You’ll also learn the “head count” system for judging proportion and ratio, a classical technique that helps anchor your sculpture in harmony and balance.

This session is not about speed but about depth of observation; slowing down enough to see the form before you truly. By the end, you will have developed the foundational skills and perceptual awareness needed to begin a figurative sculpting practice, as well as an understanding of how sustained attention transforms what we see into what we can shape.

This workshop is open to the Veteran Community.