Strange
Encounters: Figuration and Narrative in
Clay
with Alessandro Gallo
9-22 June, 2019
Alessandro Gallo will share
his formidable sculpting process from hand building a figure to painting it
realistically after it is fired.
Throughout the immersive two weeks every participant will be encouraged
to work on two specific projects.
As
the ideal point of departure, participants will begin with an animal mask or a
replication of an object at hand (a shoe, bag, cloth, fruit and so on, that can
be next to the sculpture at all times for reference). This piece will be fired during the middle of
the workshop and will provide a ‘canvas’ for painting and finishing practice
during the last three days. Following this initial “diving deep,” the focus
will shift to a more challenging piece that will be more specific to each
individual. Encouraging self tailored
projects and offering instruction, demos and suggestions at all times on
decision-making regarding approach, Alessandro will tutor each stage of the
process, reinforcing concepts from the first three days, while all the while
delving deeper, asking for more.
Detailed, thorough, and generous, this workshop will take participants
beyond their own expectations of themselves in finding their ceramic voice in
figurative narration.
The workshop will cover
all topics involved with each stage and all precautions in between:
- Concept and narrative
- Reference preparation
- Hand building solid using a pipe armature.
- Roughing in clay, identifying main shapes,
planes and volumes
- Defining progressively the piece in all its
parts
- Cutting the solid piece in sections.
- Hollowing and reassembling.
- Sculpting and Refining
- Details
- Firing
- Post firing, glues and tools
- Painting and finishing techniques
Sunday, June 9: Welcome Dinner MOKSA
A
relaxed evening in which participants can get to know one another and share
their stories and intentions for being here. Dessert will be served with an image presentation given by Alessandro.
-
Meeting each other, introducing teaching
strategy and setting all the workshop goals, on sculpting and painting.
-
Short Artist talks focusing on process and
offering a bird’s eye view of all main steps in the making of.
-
Discussing initial stages of making work. Dawn
of ideas and concept. Sketching and written notes. From concept to posture.
Narrative strategies and accessories.
-
Reference preparation. Using a model. Digital
photography and photo-editing software. Block poster and printed materials.
Small 3D models. Useful books for reference on anatomy, biology, sculpture.
-
Basic armature and beginning of Mask Project.
Roughing in clay.
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Tuesday, June 11: Developing mask project part 1
-
Sculpting from observation. Mask. Understanding
fundamental shapes.
-
Defining main volumes. Adding definition to all
features progressively
-
Artist
Talk on Process (30-45 minutes ). Slide show on recent work.
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Wednesday, June 12: Finishing mask project and firing
-
Refining and working on details
-
Hollowing. Choosing the right time to hollow,
depending on way of working and size.
-
Getting ready for firing. Drying the work and
force drying in the kiln. Firing options and techniques. Shrink slabs and
supports. Reasons for bisquing at 2100F.
-
Firing schedules handouts.
-
Cleaning up Studio and tools. Preparing for next
project.
-
Slide talks on content and narrative.
Referencing work and examples from other contemporary artists and history of
Art.
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Thursday, June 13: The
figure and gesture. Medium size figure project.
After
breaking the ice we’ll focus on a personal project that will be discussed
individually.
Participants
can come to the workshop with a specific idea and will be encouraged to bring
reference material with them so they can develop it.
-
Preparing reference material
-
Preparing work area. Boards, Canvas, Plastic
sheets.
-
Armature building. (Pipe kits, flange,
Electrical Tape, Dowels, Wire clippers, Wrenches, pliers, screws and driver)
-
Clay Tools. Water buckets, spray bottles.
-
Clay types. Different properties and subjective
preferences.
-
All materials will be provided.
-
Roughing in clay
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Loading
of mask works for firing.
Friday, June 14: Figure development and sculpting
-
Sculpting. Identifying and defining main volumes
and planes
-
Armature adjustments
-
Demos on Anatomy and physics of folds and fabric
in clothed figures
-
Using references methodically
-
Progressively adding sharpness and details to
all parts
-
Preparing for hollowing. Talks on finding the
right time for hollowing making sure that details won’t be lost after the piece
is cut in sections.
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Firing
mask works.
Saturday, June 15: Hollowing and putting back together
-
Deciding on cuts. Where, when and how many.
-
Preparing slip
-
Scoring clay and joining sections back together
-
Reassembling carefully
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Sunday, June 16: FREE DAY
Monday, June 17: Refining the figure, details. Kiln prep
discussion.
-
Working on the reassembled piece and add
definitions and details in all its parts
-
Finishing the project
-
Understanding preparation for the kiln. Firing
section separately and preparing for glueing them back together after.
-
Explanation of shrink slabs, sand, clay
supports, paper
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Tuesday, June 18: Painting and finishing Mask project
Post-firing work, grinding and Glues.
Priming and color theory basics
-
Demos on Epoxy PC-11
-
Power tools and dremel heads for grinding.
Demonstration.
-
Apoxy Sculpt, Self hardening resins for seams.
Demonstration
-
gloves, paper covered table, popsicle sticks,
lids or small plastic plates, cut up papertowels, masking tape
-
Prepping clay for painting. Sand paper. Primers
and first paint layers
-
Color Theory basic principles
-
Painting techniques demos
-
Mixing paint demos and exercise.
-
Tip will focus on skin tone and variations. Alex
will focus on mixing and matching colors and layering thin coats.
-
Painting materials
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Wednesday, June 19: Painting, finishing mask project
-
All day use of painting techniques directed at
specific Mask project
-
Brushes and toothbrushes
-
Finishing
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Thursday, June 20: EXCURSION
1:30pm departure: An afternoon visit to Setia Dharma: House of
Masks & Puppets—the expansive private collection of one man’s passion
including pieces from all over Indonesia as well as the rest of the world. Followed by dinner with a view at The
Elephant restaurant, and a walking tour to the Pura Dalem, Ubud to watch a
Balinese Kecak dance performance.
Friday, June 21: Wrapping up
-
Protective varnish and fixative
-
Finishing touches
-
Cleaning up
Talks
on presenting the work in exhibition space. Metal base and welded pegs.
-
Using different materials to complement the
piece
-
Restoration
Lunch- family style in GCAC
mezzanine
Saturday, June 22: Final Exhibition of Finished Works
Concluding discussion/critique/evaluation by
instructor and participants.
Basics on packing and crating ceramics sculpture
Farewell Lunch: family style
together in GCAC mezzanine
Departure
by 2pm
Required or useful materials for
participants:
-
Photo reference material for individual projects
(animal masks and the medium sized figure piece).
-
If there’s a specific project please bring
accurate printed photographic reference.
Instructions: As many good clear photographs of the subject as
possible.
Minimum:
8 eye-level photos of the full figure (front, back, left, right and all ¾) plus
details.
*Evenings are optional and will depend on independent
transport arrangements.
No comments:
Post a Comment