Introduction

Ceramic figure sculpture seen as a form of drawing in three-dimensional space leads to the handling of clay in a way that is immediate and responsive. In this course, students will give life to forms by drawing with light and dark, exploiting the inherent qualities of clay.

Techniques taught

The course is designed to inform the students’ language of mark making in clay in a way that can also translate in other materials, such as drawing and painting.  This is primarily taught through ‘croquis’ – a series of relatively short poses, interspersed with, and culminating in longer studies - always working from live models. This way or working not only gives an immediacy and freshness of mark and surface, but also helps to develop an ‘eye-to-hand’ connection, that quickly becomes fluid and instinctive. Overall, students learn to see and use negative space and shadows, and generally to perceive and access form through a range of different ‘tools’ and approaches.

Teaching method

There will be e a live model on all working days. We will work with a beautiful, plastic stoneware clay. Some, but not all of the figures created will be fired during the workshop, whereas others are made purely for learning purpose.

Studio space and logistics

The workshop is held in the Nature Studio. Open on three sides, the studio is located at the base of the La Meridiana hill beside the wood kiln, a flight of stairs from the main studios. There will be a small group of maximum 9 students.

The artist

Joanna Mallin-Davies has been making sculpture for almost 30 years, in both ceramics and bronze.
She was born in the coal mining Rhondda Valleys of South Wales and gained a BA(Hons) in Ceramics Design, at the College of Art & Design, in Cardiff, in South Wales. Immediately on graduating she began working as a professional artist; exhibiting her work and teaching.She has travelled extensively, moved to Hong Kong, then London, Denmark and Paris, before settling in Tuscany.
At its source, her work is fundamentally classical, but carrying the influence of ancient Chinese and Japanese art, Hindu-Buddhist philosophies, and is essentially concerned with the inner experience - emotions, consciousness and inner being. Her belief in ‘Truth to Material’ is evident in her approach to bronze as much as it is in her clay work.
Joanna currently teaches Ceramics at the Siena Art Institute AKA ‘The Point’ and at the Drawing Academy of The Animation Workshop, Denmark. http://www.mallin-davies.com/

AUTHOR: Robbie Heidinger – https://www.robbieheidinger.com

DATE:August 16 - 22, 2020

LEVEL: Sculpture. For all

TOTAL PRICE: EURO 1300

DEPOSIT FOR BOOKING: EURO 400