Masterclass: Sculpting a Portrait in Clay

Alexandra Slava, a traditional figurative sculptor and founder of the Berlin Sculpture Atelier, presents a highly anticipated, comprehensive guide to sculpting realistic portraits in clay.

The first chapter offers a brief self-introduction by artist Alexandra Slava, highlighting key aspects of her biography and creative influences.

This lesson introduces you to the essential modeling materials, with a focus on the key differences between water-based and oil-based clay.

Sculpting with clay typically requires a supporting framework. In this lesson, you’ll explore the armature best suited for a clay portrait study.

A sculpture stand is an essential tool, providing a versatile working surface that enhances the process of creating three-dimensional artwork.

Water-based clay and wood make the perfect combination. In this lesson, you’ll learn about the various types of wooden modeling tools and their application.

Loop tools are designed to remove excess clay, assist in modeling, and refine surfaces. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use the various types of loop tools effectively.

The final lesson of the chapter covers additional tools for measurement and surface refinement, including a caliper, mirror, and mosquito netting.

In this brief chapter, you’ll explore two approaches to sculpting a portrait — from a life model and from photo references — and learn how to prepare for the project.

A block-in involves simplifying and abstracting complex visual information into basic shapes, providing a solid foundation for a sculpture.

It’s time to touch clay! In this lesson, you’ll see a demonstration on covering the armature with clay and learn the most effective techniques for blocking in a clay portrait.

In this lesson, you will learn how to identify the first point of reference and begin establishing major proportions while working from the profile view.

Direct observation is key to a lifelike portrait. Learn a method for observing the profile contour to refine proportions, angles, and spatial relationships between features.

From blocky straight lines to higher specificity, refining the contour line from the profile is crucial, as a person’s likeness lies in both major forms and subtle nuances.

Once the major proportions are in place and the profile line looks accurate, the features and their depths can be mapped out as internal landmarks.

Learn how to apply clay to the major masses of the head from the profile while further refining the contours, proportions, and relative depths of the features.

In this lesson, you will learn how to apply the principles of symmetry to transfer the forms from one side to the other while working from the front view.

Finally, the sculpture is turned to the other side. Learn how to organize the major volumes while using the fresh perspective to identify potential errors.

This lesson marks the start of a new chapter on anatomy, focusing primarily on the bony structure of the human head. The first major part of the skull reviewed is the cranium.

In this lesson, you will explore the complex structure of facial bones and their role in shaping the major forms of the face and facial features.

The eyes are undoubtedly a key feature of any portrait. Before focusing on fine details, it’s essential to understand the structure underlying the surface forms.

This lesson offers an overview of the key facial muscles, the role of fat pads in shaping fleshy forms, and the principles of the face’s planar structure.

This lesson marks the start of a new chapter on building widths and demonstrates methods for gradually adding volume while maintaining the right depths.

Discover the different approaches of identifying the overall character of your model’s face, enabling you to render it with accuracy and expression.

In this lesson, you will learn how to apply your knowledge of anatomy and direct observation to capture both the obvious and subtle plane changes of the face.

The first lesson in the chapter on facial features focuses on the nose and its anatomical structure, highlighting common mistakes made by novice sculptors.

Learn about the intricate shape of the mouth and its surrounding fleshy forms to enhance your clay portrait with precision and expression.

This lesson will teach you about the eye, its anatomical structure, and key elements, which you can apply when blocking in the eyeballs within the eye sockets.

The demonstration in this lesson will guide you in mapping out and shaping the eyelids while effectively expressing the direction of the model’s gaze.

Modeling eyebrows can be challenging, as their expressiveness often relies on color, which you have to translate into form. Learn different approaches to tackle this.

This lesson showcases the technique of carving out the irises to achieve darker values, adding a lifelike quality to the eyes and establishing a focal point for the piece.

Learn about the position, anatomical structure, and individual parts of the ears to render them with naturalistic accuracy, enhancing the clay portrait as a whole.

This chapter focuses on the nuances of sculpting the neck and shoulders, starting with an overview of the bony and muscular structures.

Watch the evolution of a portrait sculpture as the neck and parts of the shoulder girdle are refined, and learn which key areas to focus on during the process.

The shape of a cropped neck and shoulders can enhance the overall appeal of a piece. Learn about the thought process behind selecting a specific composition.

Draw inspiration for your own work and learn how artists, both past and present, have approached the challenge of selecting the right composition for their sculptures.

Explore the broad concept of completing a sculpture, whether by smoothing the surface or intentionally leaving certain areas more “unfinished.”

Since we perceive forms visually through their interaction with light, understanding the value scale will give you greater control over the viewer’s aesthetic response.

Rendering hair is a challenge that can be approached in various ways. Learn how to avoid repetitiveness and the “artificial” appearance of hair in your clay portrait.

Learn how the quality of surface finish impacts the expression of soft, fleshy forms versus bony areas, defining the overall character of the sculpture. Get ready to finish your portrait!

Concluding the Masterclass, Alexandra offers final advice to embrace the creative journey, where both challenges and triumphs are integral to the process.