Working from the Life Model with Jenny Pollak

Jenny’s great interest in teaching this class is to provide a platform where students can discover a truly personal sculptural language, challenging them to create work that goes beyond a simple anatomical study. Jenny will be encouraging students to think about how they might push their work towards a deeper expression of the human figure in all its possibilities, from naturalism to complete abstraction, and to engage with the life study with intension and fearlessness.

The human body is one of the most challenging, eloquent and time honoured subjects for the exploration of artistic expression. 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 but not essential.

Each student will receive one bag of clay with which to work, but you are encouraged to buy more clay if you would like 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 Jenny, the students, and the model), followed by three weeks in which you will have time to finish your work. Students will be taught how to hollow their clay pieces out so that by the end of term you will have a piece that can be fired (at an offsite kiln, to be arranged by the student). Students who may prefer to cast their pieces in other classes are also encouraged to attend.