Building for the Real World: Intermediate/Advanced Figure Sculpting

In this foundational sculpture class, students will learn to create figurative ceramic works with a focus on professional presentation and ergonomic design. Using a clay body specifically formulated for sculpture, we will explore techniques that ensure sculptures can withstand handling, shipping, and gallery installation while maintaining artistic integrity.

Students will develop a deeper understanding of how sculptural work interacts with the world—how it is touched, transported, and displayed—while honing essential construction skills. We will emphasize solid-building techniques such as hollowing out for weight reduction, press mold making for repeatable forms, and figure sculpting with armatures. Additionally, students will learn to photograph their work to prepare for applying to exhibitions and residencies.

Projects include:

• Form Fundamentals – Learning to hollow out essential geometric shapes (sphere, cube, triangular pyramid) to understand structure and weight distribution.

• The Bust – Sculpting an abstract or realistic head while considering balance, fragility, and surface refinement.

• Press Mold Making – Creating a reusable mold from a sculpture using plaster cloth for efficient reproduction.

• Shipping & Photography – Learning proper packing and photography techniques to professionally document and protect sculptural work.

Beyond building techniques, students will be introduced to industry expectations for professional sculptors, including clean packaging, ease of installation, and practical weight considerations. The goal is to prepare artists to create work that is both conceptually strong and structurally sound for real-world exhibition.

This is an intermediate/advanced level class. Prior handbuilding experience is highly recommended.

Learn more about instructor Joey Nuñez.

We believe clay is for everyone! Need tuition assistance? Please visit our tuition assistance page for more information.

What’s included:

• Access to use our studio during open studio hours every day for the duration of the quarter from 10AM to 9PM.
• Personal half shelf for storage of tools, clay, and in process work

What to bring:

• A good attitude and a mind open to learning.
• An apron or clothes that can get dirty.
• A notebook or sketchbook.

Pottery NW has communal tools available. Personal toolkits, bat pins & additional clay can be purchased at the online student store. All items purchased from the store need to be picked up onsite.

Please Note:

• If you are new to the Pottery NW studio, or if you have not attended orientation as of summer 2023 quarter, you must attend the first class to receive the mandatory studio orientation. New students who do not attend the first day will be dropped from the class without a refund of the class fee. On the first day of class, late arrivals beyond 15 minutes after the class start time will not be permitted to join. Returning students should still attend the first day of class as the instructor will not be able to reteach missed lessons and demos to absent students in the proceeding classes.

 • We are in Pioneer Square, so please plan ahead so that you have enough time to park. You don’t want to miss anything!