This workshop will appeal to anyone interested in the portrait as an art form: sculptors, painters, draftsmen, and graphic artists alike. The workshop will focus on two areas of portrait sculpture: (1) structure or map of the head, and (2) working methods. (1) Working from Stephen’s demonstration, the first two days will focus on how to block in the head using basic convex planes, and then working in a hierarchy from larger to smaller shapes, create the fundamental structure or map of the head (as shown in the photo). (2) Working from the model, the last two days will focus on working methods in sculpting a portrait from life. Stephen’s teaching methods include lectures, group demos often in a step by step process, and one on one instruction and demos. The goal of the workshop is to imprint and retain the knowledge on the structure of the head and portrait sculpture working methods, not a finished sculpture. Tuition covers instruction and model fees only, students are responsible to purchase and bring their materials (clay, armature, tools).
Book on the Dogtown workshop here
Cost is $525. Tuition covers instruction and model fees only, students are responsible to purchase and bring their materials (clay, armature, tools). (See below)
Instructor: Stephen Perkins is a figure sculptor trained in the classical method. He studied figure sculpture with Walker Hancock, Leslie Posey, and Elisabeth Chandler; anatomy with Deane Keller and Jack Kramer; and painting with Henry Hensche and Nelson Shanks. He has taught at the New York Academy of Art, Academy of Art University, and Grand Central Academy, and currently teaches at his home atelier in Melbourne Florida and Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia (see more at StephenPerkinsArt.net).
Materials: Students are responsible for materials and should bring the following: (1) portrait armature, head and neck life size scale recommended. (2) Clay – water based, use a clay body you like; if you are new to clay, Stephen recommends trying WED clay developed by Disney animators, and Soldate is a popular clay body at Dogtown. (3) Modeling tools – large, medium, and small sized rake tools are good. (4) Miscellaneous – bring a spray bottle, old white cotton T shirts, and 1 or 2 dry cleaning bags or equivalent to wet and cover your piece at the end of each day. Details on how to build an armature and where to buy all materials will be e-mailed to students enrolled. Sculpture stands are provided for use at the workshop. For an additional fee, there will an option to buy some or all materials that will be provided at the start of the workshop.
