Sculpture Education 

Ready to learn some new skills?

A Solid Foundation

Portrait Sculpture Courses

This course is for:
• Beginners to get a very clear method and gain confidence.
• Intermediate to advanced modellers to hone their art.

Discover a unique way to sculpt heads in clay, with the points-in-space method I use to train plastic surgeons.

I have developed the points-in-space method for modelling sculpture over 40 years. Through observation, study, research and uncovering quotes from masters of sculpture, I have distilled a unique approach that gets accurate results, quickly.


In 4 days you will be able to achieve results you never dreamt possible. You can learn how to clay model confidently with unbelievable accuracy and ease.

I run these courses to share this method with you, so you can create your own exciting and accurate works of art, quickly and accurately and save many hundred hours of trial and error.Each studio session is designed to help you uncover and learn sculpture techniques and sculpture skills. Tuition will be both group orientated, but also tailored to your your individual needs.

I hope you will leave brimming with as much knowledge as I can pass on.

My intention is to you the confidence to successfully undertake a portrait commission of your own.

You have as much talent for teaching as you do for sculpture and I’m guessing that’s pretty rare

JC Nottingham

4 Day Portrait Courses 2025

1
Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th April 2025
South Brent, Devon  £545
2
Thursday 29th May- Sunday 1st June 2025
Calderstones, Liverpool  £480 (no discount)
3
Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th July 2025
Art House, South Brent, Devon £545 (discounts available)
4
 Thursday 13th Nov - Sunday 16th Nov 2025
South Brent, Devon  £545 (discounts available)
5
Friday 31st Oct - Sunday 2nd Nov 2025     Sculpture for Surgeons 
Marylebone, London:   Contact for Cost
Booking form
The Mansion House, Calderstones Liverpool

Course Introduction

Portrait Modelling.

Making a good head in sculpture is very satisfying. Each studio session is crafted to help you further uncover an understanding of the human form.

This carefully structured 4-day sculpture class builds on your ability and offers you key techniques to give you confidence.

The masterclass is limited to 10 participants and suitable for professional as well as novice sculptors, as tuition will be individually tailored to suit your requirements.



Silicon Mould Making & Resin Bronze Casting.

This 5-day course is not running in 2025.

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Venue

Portrait Modelling courses are held at Art House, South Brent, Devon and Calderstones in Liverpool.  

Sculpture for Surgeons is held in London

Mould Making and Casting courses "Venue to be arranged"

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Course objectives

Portrait Modelling

You will come away with:

• A clear order of how to start, develop and complete your work step by step - so you progress with clarity.
• When to measure and when to rely on your eye - so you're never confused.
• The key aspects that create a likeness and how to apply them to gain accuracy.
• How to bring the clay to life and portray expression - enabling you to make exciting work.
• How to rescue a disaster which can happen to the best of us at times!
• Knowing when to stop - so you don't overwork your sculpture.
• How to avoid guesswork - to remove anxiety and make systematic progress.
• A faster approach that speeds up your modelling.

Silicon Mould Making 

A practical and technically based course where you learn to make a mould of your own work and explore mould making problems and how to overcome them. Max dimension 30cm x 30cm x 30cm

Resin Bronze Casting

Getting it right. Casting your own work and learning to patinate using the hot flame method.

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Working Procedure

Portrait Modelling

Each studio session is designed to help you uncover and learn sculpture techniques and sculpture skills. What to work on next, when to measure and when to use your eye?

Beginners will gain a systematic approach they can trust, standing them in good stead for the future. Those who sculpt already will see a shift in their understanding and a development in their work and style.

The group is small and tuition will be both group orientated, and also tailored to your individual needs.

Be prepared for a deep dive into this traditional art form. This is not a course where you are left alone to discover your creativity. You will be guided and shown exactly how to apply techniques to get results.

What you learn in 4-days will save you years of self-learning and going through the hundreds of hours and mistakes it took me to develop.

These methods can be applied to all modelling and so be useful for whole figures or animals.


Silicon Mould Making & Resin Bronze Casting

The 5-day course is structured to both practically make a silicon-mould and to have supportive lectures and demonstrations about problem solving in mould-making.


The 2-day Bronze Resin Casting course gives you time to learn the essential skills of bronze resin-casting to make the work look like bronze. The course concludes with the work being and hot patinatated with acids

Other casting materials are also explored.

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Pricing

Portrait Modeling
£545

4-day Courses include all materials
clay fired head,
& refreshments.

 Discounts available see below

Apply here
Silicon Mould Making & Bronze Resin Casting
£720

5-day Courses
includes refreshments
Materials are not
included in the price of this course.

Discounts available see below

Apply here

Discounts

 5% if you bring a friend who books with you at same time

5% discount when booking a 2nd course in same year.

5% Previous Participants. MAS, Devon Guild and WPA Members.

5% Early Bird Bookings 2 months before start date.

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Food & Accommodation

Devon courses are within a short distance of shops and cafes.

Refreshments are provided throughout the day in Devon.  In Liverpool they can be purchased in the cafe.

Accommodation is not included in the cost of the course. If you would like recommendation with choosing your accommodation in South Devon I will be happy to help and forward you links to accommodation sites. 

Please let me know well in advance, as the best places are in demand in school holidays.
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For detailed information

Please  EMAIL me for 4-pages of detailed information about the Portrait Modelling course.

If you would like further information or to talk about the suitability of the courses for you just contact me.

I am also able to  run courses in your own studio.  Please contact me to discuss. 

I also do 1-1 work the form of personal mentoring.

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