News for 2024, we are planning to move to Suffolk, so from now on I shall be running courses in half terms rather than full terms, as we are not sure of a moving date as yet. So all the 10-week courses online have been shortened to 5-week courses. These maybe the very last courses I run in Essex so please get booking early if you want to join me before I go.

Ceramic Decorative Techniques
This 5 or 10-week course introduces basic slab-building on which decorative techniques will be applied.  It is an ideal introduction course to ceramics and is advised  before the Hand-building in clay course which is self-led. Surface decoration processes demonstrated include mono-printing, stencilling, wax and latex resist, intaglio, slip trailing. Following demonstration you will create your own decorative tiles and slab pots. £200 – £400 BOOK HERE
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Hand-Building With Clay 
This 5 -10-week course has been designed to allow you to make clay objects of your own choice, so rather than a structured tutored timetable you are free to create your own sculptural ideas at your own pace with guidance. This course is great for beginners and experienced artists. Instruction will be given on basic hand-building techniques then you will be free to make small objects in clay – the list is endless, please contact Billie to discuss your ideas. All materials and firing of the clay is included in the price.
£200 -£400
Gallery to come

Introduction to Portrait Sculpture
This course is the most popular of all the 10 (5) week courses offered. It is ideal for beginners and those wanting to learn in detail, the anatomy and proportions of the face. It is an intense tutored course and much is to be gained from this. Aim each week is to focus on one part of the face or a particular sculptural process- discussing anatomy and proportions as well as learning sculpting techniques through observation. This 3 dimensional crafting of the face gives a deep understanding of the proportions of the human portrait and in-turn these skills help with expressing accurate representations in drawing and painting as well as sculpture. The first 5 sessions you will be sculpting parts of the face, in clay from plaster casts designed by Billie. After the half-term break you will spend 2 sessions making a mini-portrait from your own photos, followed by two sessions creating a bas relief portrait. The last session involves painting and mounting all your work ready to take home. This course is also a must before venturing onto the Life-size Portrait Sculpture course.  £200 – £400 BOOK HERE
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Introduction to Sculptural Processes
Again, this course is excellent for beginners and those who have always wanted to have a go at sculpting. Intense tutored sessions with a step-by-step approach and demonstrations to help you to create some original pieces using traditional materials and techniques over 10 weeks. Experimenting with wire, clay and plaster to create 3D forms. These skills will be linked with other artists’ work during class discussion. The course will follow a theme which will be developed with the sculptural techniques over the weeks, to create pieces of work that convey individual ideas and concepts. Ideal for a portfolio project. Aimed at beginners, school teachers and experienced artists who want to develop a sculptural approach to their work.  £400
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Figure Sculpting
Using a scale of 1:5, you will learn how to sculpt the full figure in oil based clay from a scaled down cast model sculpture. Particular attention will be given to anatomy and proportions of the human body. You will measure the cast sculpture accurately to make a scaled wire armature, then each week, using the sight-size profile method, you will sculpt the full figure. As oil based clay is used for this course the work can’t be fired, however you can purchase separately all the materials and armature of your finished work if you wish to take it home or you can pay separately for a silicon mould to be made for multiple castings in a variety of materials such as copper or bronze resin. The last session of this course allows you to sculpt a clay torso which can be fired and taken home.  £400
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Information sheet (to Come)

Life-size Portrait Sculpture
This 10 week course concentrates on the portrait as a whole. Through observation, working from life and photographs, you will be taught how to photograph, measure and sculpt the model. The course will enhance your knowledge of anatomy, proportions and clay modelling to create a life-like, lifesize portrait bust. It is recommended that beginners do the Introduction to Portrait Sculpture before venturing on this more advanced class. £450
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