Working from the life model with Jenny Pollak

As one of the teachers of the life study class at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School the main focus of my classes is to encourage students to develop a truly personal sculptural language.

The human body is one of the most challenging, eloquent and time honoured subjects for the exploration of artistic expression. Students will be encouraged to think about their intentions and motivations, with the end goal of developing a unique voice. This process can include the whole spectrum of artistic expression from realism to abstraction.

I will be encouraging students who have previously worked with the figure not to fall back into old habits, but to engage with the life study with intension and courage.

While the class is not focused on the anatomical study of the body, deep observational skills are essential to the realisation of the finished work and will form a part of the discussions held over the course of the nine week term. Some previous experience of either sculpting with clay or working from a life model (life drawing included) is preferred.

Each student will receive one bag of clay with which to work and you are encouraged to buy more clay if you want to work on a larger scale.

The first six weeks of the class will consist of a single pose (a pose arrived at by a process of rigorous consensus between myself and the students), followed by three weeks in which students will have time to finish their work.

We will work without armatures with the intention that the pieces be hollowed out and made ready in the last three weeks so that by the end of term you will have a piece that will be ready to be fired. (Students who may prefer to cast their pieces in other classes are also encouraged to attend.)

Jenny Pollak 2025

Pictured: inspiration from Giacometti.