Fridays: 17 October - 12 December 2025 (9 weeks)

$805.30 (Earlybird)
$895.30 (General)

This intensive life study class offers students the unique opportunity to make a study of the nude in a single extended pose.

Jenny’s great interest in teaching this class is to provide a platform where students can discover a truly personal sculptural language, challenging them to create work that goes beyond a simple anatomical study. Jenny will be encouraging students to think about how they might push their work towards a deeper expression of the human figure in all its possibilities, from naturalism to complete abstraction, and to engage with the life study with intension and fearlessness.

The human body is one of the most challenging, eloquent and time honoured subjects for the exploration of artistic expression. While the class is not focused on the anatomical study of the body, deep observational skills are essential to the realisation of the finished work and will form a part of the discussions held over the course of the nine week term. Some previous experience of either sculpting with clay or working from a life model (life drawing included) is preferred but not essential.

Each student will receive one bag of clay with which to work, but you are encouraged to buy more clay if you would like to work on a larger scale.

The first six weeks of the class will consist of a single pose (a pose arrived at by a process of rigorous consensus between Jenny, the students, and the model), followed by three weeks in which you will have time to finish your work. Students will be taught how to hollow their clay pieces out so that by the end of term you will have a piece that can be fired (at an offsite kiln, to be arranged by the student). Students who may prefer to cast their pieces in other classes are also encouraged to attend.

Pictured: inspiration from Rodin.

*Early Bird discount finishes 26 September.

Mondays: 17 November - 15 December (5 weeks)
6pm - 9pm

Fees: $355.30

This brief course will help students undertake the basic techniques of carving. Learn how to remove step by step the material that is surrounding a sculpture, starting from unveiling the basic volumes connected together in harmonious composition and the beginnings of the finishing process where time permits.

Carving is a magical process that pursues the soothing of the soul and detaches ourselves from the modern chaotic life. It’s a way to connect to nature and it informs a sense of space, training the eye and the mind to see in depth!

Alabaster stone will be available to purchase at an additional cost to the course fee. Elena will have a good selection of stones to choose from which are best suited for this 5 week course.

Students are also welcome to bring work in progress stone sculptures, including marble works you may be currently working on. Elena can guide you in the next steps of your stone carvings.

This workshop is fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au to join the waitlist.

Tuesdays: 18 November - 16 December (5 weeks)
10am - 2pm

This brief course will help students undertake the basic techniques of carving. Learn how to remove step by step the material that is surrounding a sculpture, starting from unveiling the basic volumes connected together in harmonious composition and the beginnings of the finishing process where time permits.

Carving is a magical process that pursues the soothing of the soul and detaches ourselves from the modern chaotic life. It’s a way to connect to nature and it informs a sense of space, training the eye and the mind to see in depth!

Alabaster stone will be available to purchase at an additional cost to the course fee. Elena will have a good selection of stones to choose from which are best suited for this 5 week course.

Students are also welcome to bring work in progress stone sculptures, including marble works you may be currently working on. Elena can guide you in the next steps of your stone carvings.

This workshop is fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au to join the waitlist.

Sat 11 & Sun 12 April, 2026

Wax is a wonderful medium and has many unique properties that make it ideal for sculpting. Wax can be used as a liquid, as a paste, warm (like plasticine), or cold (carvable). During this workshop students will be shown various techniques to utilize these variable states of the medium. Students will be shown how to construct a wax armature, explore modelling techniques and the use of tools for smoothing and texturing. Students will have the opportunity (at an additional cost*) to have their finished wax sculptures cast in bronze by Michael, using the lost wax casting process.

*Bronze casting will be provided at a significant discount to students who wish to cast their work. However prices will need to be looked at on a case by case basis after the workshop concludes as it is impossible to predict the size and complexity of individual artworks before they are made.

This workshop will open for enrolments in 2026. If you would like to be notified when bookings open, please email admin@tbsss.org.au

Sat 18 & Sun 19 July, 2026

A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of alabaster carving and learn from popular guest teacher Carol Crawford.

Carol is a specialist alabaster sculptor who interprets the raw stone to create soft, interlocking organic forms. Carol will be assisted by artist Elena Murgia, who is a specialist stone carver. For this weekend course Carol and Elena will guide you on the use of different hand tools, finishing/ polishing techniques, and how to realise a beautiful soft abstracted form out of the rough stone you have chosen.

Alabaster is a very fine, stable, sometimes translucent stone that can be easily carved. For this workshop you will be working with beautiful white alabaster (translucent and opaque) shipped all the way from Italy.

This workshop will open for enrolments in 2026. If you would like to be notified when bookings open, please email admin@tbsss.org.au