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General Description

This intensive workshop offers students a 10-day sculpting experience of the human skull and the human head from life. Students start the course by working to develop an anatomically convincing human skull, using visual constructive tools to gain an understanding of the anatomy of the head. They apply the newfound knowledge to sculpting two portraits in clay from live models.

Regular demonstrations and individual critiques guide students through basic and advanced concepts of the portrait, light and form, and anatomical and proportional canons to analyze depth and gain a visual understanding of contour movement in space.

Particular emphasis is placed on developing a structured thought process for deconstructing visual information and creating a methodical approach for translating anatomical information convincingly in clay. Throughout the workshop, students will be guided through a comprehensive investigation of the human form and ultimately equipped with the tools to intelligently compose an accurate and convincing portrait in 3 dimensions.

Hours per activity:
2 days skull
8 days portrait

Beginning – Intermediate – Advanced levels welcome.

Maximum enrollment 13 students.

Additional Info

WORKSHOP CREDITS: 2 per session

Please note: The Florence Academy of Art expresses workshop coursework in credits to the equivalent of 1 credit for 20 hours of completed study. Academic grades are not awarded and there are no exams. Please see each course for total hours of study. Any final acceptance or recognition of hours of study or credits for workshop (external activity) is at the discretion of the Home University or institution in question and in accordance with each institution’s transfer policy.

Medium & Materials

Water based clay
Plaster

Although students will find all materials ready for use on the first day of class, the Florentine art supply store, Zecchi, offers workshop students discounted art supplies they may wish to purchase for the course.

If you wish to keep your sculpture, the cost of the materials and options on shipping your sculpture home will be provided with the acceptance email; shipping costs from Italy will vary widely depending on the destination.

What’s Included

  • All materials and tools (students may bring their own wood modeling tools)
  • 60 hours Instruction in English
  • Individual critiques
  • Discounted art supplies
  • Extended access to the studios and school facilities after class until 9 pm
  • Access to the on-campus FAA Cafe, open to students for breakfast, lunch and afternoon aperitivo
  • List of housing recommendations

Faculty

Maudie Brady graduated in 1995 from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelors of Art, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Sculpture in 1998. She pursued a career in the Film and Television Industry, and over the course of the next 12 years learnt a wide range of skills within the Art and Construction Departments where she developed a love for sculpting. Realising there was much more to learn specifically about figurative sculpture she sought out the best training on offer, and in 2013 joined The Florence Academy of Art. In 2016 she completed the Figurative Sculpture Diploma at FAA with a student teaching scholarship, winning Best Drawing of the Sculpture Program. That year Maudie also won Best Figure for her Life Size sculpture ‘Laura’ at the 12th ARC International Salon Competition. She continues to teach in the Sculpture Program at the Academy, and is Director of Anatomy and Ecorché Sculpture, whilst maintaining a personal art practice in the studio the Academy provides.

See more of Maudie’s work in the Alumni Gallery and at www.maudiebrady.com and @maudiebradyart

Thor Larsen is a sculptor from Copenhagen, Denmark. He recieved his education at the renowned Rudolf Steiner School (1992-2004). After graduating from there, and following his passion for art, Larsen enrolled in the basic course for training to be a goldsmith at KTS. (2004-2005), and later attended EUC to become a stone mason (2005-2009). He graduated with a bronze medal. The search for academic sculpture brought  him to Florence, Italy, where he attended The Florence Academy of Art, graduating from the Sculpture Program in 2013. Thor currently works from his private studio in Florence and is a Principal Instructor in the three-year Sculpture Program, as well as Prinicple Instructor for shorter workshops all held at the Florence Academy of Art.

See more of Thor’s work at www.thorlarsen.net

Location

ADDRESS: Via Aretina 293, Florence, Italy

* If the workshop or session is fully booked you may apply to be placed on our waitlist. Should we have a cancellation or a place becomes available, we will contact you.