Facial Features: Sculpting the Human Head Worksop with Magda Gluszek
Saturday & Sunday | January 18 & 19, 2025 | All Levels | Ceramics Studio
Join us in an exploration of techniques used to sculpt realistic human facial proportions and features. A solid construction technique will allow for flexibility to make corrections and changes as we build. Heads will be created on a simple plumbing pipe armature. I will also demonstrate how to remove a sculpture from the armature and hollow it out, so that you can complete the hollowing process on your own.
Goals Upon completion of this workshop, students will be able to:
construct a human head from solid clay with the support of a simple armature
have a basic working knowledge of human facial proportions
sculpt facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, ears) in detail
remove a solid sculpture from the armature, cut, hollow and re-assemble the completed sculpture
Outline Class 1:
settingup the armature for sculpting
applying solid clay to the armature
forming the basic shape of the head
basic facial proportions
plotting out placement of facial features
roughing out the basic shape of the head
Class 2:
Creating specific features: eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair
Completion of details
Overview of drying, cutting, hollowing and reassembly techniques
Workshop Materials
25 lbs clay (Included in the Workshop)
*Please see Materials tab for more information
25 0118 MG
Magda Gluszek
Magda Gluszek is a figurative ceramic sculptor, creating her artwork from clay as well as mixed media. She currently lives in Northeastern Arizona, where she feels deeply inspired by and connected to the surrounding high desert environment. Many of Magda’s artworks express a celebration, love and concern for the wilderness around her.
Magda earned her MFA in ceramics at the University of Florida and continued on as a resident artist at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Roswell Art Center West in Roswell, Georgia. She has also been an artist in residence internationally at C.R.E.T.A. Rome, the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Greece and at La Fragua in Belalcazar, Spain. Magda was an Invited Artist at the 2010 Figurative Association Symposium at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and a 2011 NCECA Emerging Artist. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and she has instructed workshops at several nationally recognized art centers, including Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Santa Fe Clay, Reitz Ranch Center for the Ceramic Arts, and Clay Arts Vegas. Magda is also full-time art faculty and gallery director at Northland Pioneer College in Show Low, Arizona.
Banding wheel or lazy susan (strong enough to support up to 25 lbs of material)
• Free-standing mirror or reference images of human faces or facial features.
I often use this site to purchase high quality images: https://www.posespace.com
Tips for taking your own reference photos:
Take at least 8 pictures of your person (front, back, left profile, right profile, ¾ view front left, ¾ view front right, ¾ view back left, and ¾ view back right). It is also helpful to take some detail pictures as well. Make sure that all pictures are taken from the same angle (at eye level) and the same distance from the subject. It is best to have the camera stationary and the subject seated in a chair that rotates. I do not recommend extreme facial expressions for your first portrait. Make sure that the subject maintains the same facial expression throughout all of the photographs. Create a situation with even lighting. Dramatic lighting will distort the image and proportions. Print out your photographs in gray scale (no color) on 8 ½’ x 11” printer paper. Make sure the images are large and clear. I also place my reference images in clear plastic sleeves to protect them from water and clay exposure.
Basic sculpting tools with which students are most comfortable.
I suggest Kemper JA17 wooden sculpting tool (or something similar):
A cheap plastic putty knife 1.5” wide:
A wooden paddle or short length (12- 15 inches) of 1inch x 2inch scrap wood.
A wire tool (I suggest a strong piece of fishing line with no handles attached)
A scoring tool (or needle tool)
Plastic to cover work
Spray bottle to wet down work
apron
several sheets of scrap newspaper
masking tape
Armature
Prior to workshop, students should construct a simple armature with the following materials:
Floor flange and threaded pipe. These can be purchased in the plumbing department of any major hardware store. Type of metal is not important. Diameter of pipe is not important, as long as it fits the flange. Pipe should be at least 6” long.
Wooden board for mounting floor flange. Board should be at least ¾” thick and at least 12” x 12” (Specific dimensions are not important)
4 wood screws ½” long, for mounting flange to board
Image of armature after assembly: (sorry, it’s a little dirty)
Hollowing Tools
small buckets for collecting clay scraps during hollowing
Piece of foam (like egg crate) for laying sculpture on while hollowing
A trim/ribbon tool for carving out sculptures:
Cancellation Policy
Registration
Each student must enroll individually.
Classes must be paid in full upon registration.
Students may register online or by calling the Sedona Arts Center Office at 928-282-3809, ext. 1.
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted or student may pay with cash or check by registering in person during office hours, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
In-Person and Online Workshops
Payment in full is due upon registration, or a payment plan can be put in place by the student upon check-out through Sezzle.
There is a $125 Cancellation Fee for any cancellations made before December 18, 2024. Remaining balance will be refunded.
There are no refunds after January 4, 2025.
If Sedona Arts Center cancels the workshop for any reason, all payments made will be refunded in full.
Important Message
The Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for providing make-up sessions or issuing refunds, credits, or transfers for courses missed as a result of illness, emergencies, or other events beyond our control. There are absolutely no refunds after the cut-off date for any reason, unless the Sedona Arts Center has to cancel the workshop, then all fees paid will be refunded in full.
