Sundays: 11 February - 14 April 2024 (9 weeks)

$780.30 (Earlybird)
$865.30 (General)

As a teacher of the life study class at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School I am always inspired and excited by the opportunity to encourage students towards developing a truly personal sculptural language.

This class is not focused on the anatomical study of the body, though deep observational skills and an understanding of the anatomy are regarded as essential to the realisation of the finished piece and will often form a part of the discussions held over the course of the nine week term.

Fundamentally, this class is focused on stimulating a deep and considered attention to the human body as one of the most challenging and eloquent subjects for going deeper into one's own process. At the outset, students will be encouraged to think about their intentions and motivations for making their work, with the end goal of developing a unique sculptural voice. This process can include the whole spectrum of artistic expression from realism to abstraction, and I will be encouraging students not to fall back into old habits, but to engage with the figure as a time honoured subject for developing a personal language of artistic expression.

As a teacher, I am happiest when, at the end of the term, I look around the studio and see every piece as a unique expression of the pose, each of them speaking in some way of the maker.

Each student will receive one bag of clay with which to work (you are encouraged to buy more clay if you want to work on a larger scale). The class will consist of six weeks with the one pose (a pose arrived at by a process of rigorous consensus), followed by three weeks in which students will have time to finish their work. We will work without armatures with the intention that the pieces be hollowed out and made ready in the last weeks so that by the end of term you will have a piece that will be ready to be fired. (Students who may prefer to cast their pieces in other classes are also encouraged to attend.)

Some previous experience of either sculpting with clay or working from a life model (life drawing included) is preferred.

Pictured: inspiration from Giacometti.

*Early Bird discount finishes 21 January.
*No class running on Easter Sunday, 31 March

Fridays: 26 July - 6 September 2024 (7 weeks)

$695.30 (Earlybird)
$770.30 (General)

Learn the principles of modelling the figure in clay! Designed to develop the student’s understanding of the form and structure of the human body, this course will be an intensive life study focusing on human anatomy and observation.

Working from a life model for seven weeks, students will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of anatomy, the rhythms and movable masses of the body, proportion and language of sculptural form. Students will develop skills in armature building, clay modelling and training of the observational eye.

The first class of this course will feature various poses from the model, allowing participants to create "sketches" in clay.  By the second lesson we will settle into a long pose to be worked on for the remaining six weeks.  In order to have optimal time with a model, this course will not include mould making and casting. The course is intended as an intensive life study, not to complete a finished "masterpiece".  Students who would like to translate their work into a cast can do so by enrolling in a workshop class at the Tom Bass Studio.  Suitable for beginners through to advanced levels, this course will teach the foundations of the classical figure in sculpture.

*Early Bird discount finishes 5 July.

Mondays: 3 February – 3 March (5 weeks)
Week 1: 5:30pm - 9pm
Week 2, 3, 4, 5: 6pm - 9pm

$330.30 (Earlybird)
$365.30 (General)

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.

Please note that for the first week, please arrive at 5:30pm, this will allow 30 mins of time to browse and choose your piece/s of stone.

About Elena:
Elena Murgia is an Italian born artist. After studying ceramics in London, her sculpting journey started at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School in 2017.

She undertook marble carving classes under the guidance of Usama Alnassar who continues to mentor her.  Elena has also been mentored and trained by TBSSS teacher Wendy Black, whom Elena continues to assist on a Wednesday during term time.

Elena participates in national prizes and group exhibitions around the country and had her first solo exhibition in December 2023 at the Clara Street Gallery showcasing works in marble, alabaster, bronze and porcelain.

Through her sculpture she explores the dichotomy between quality and image, inner beauty and the masks we wear to conform to the world, responding to both feminine and the feminist, her past and her present.

*Early bird discount ends midnight 20 January.

Tuesdays: 4 February – 4 March (5 weeks)
Week 1: 9:30am - 2pm
Week 2, 3, 4, 5: 10am - 2pm

$380.30 (Earlybird)
$415.30 (General)

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.

Please note that for the first week, please arrive at 9:30am, this will allow 30 mins of time to browse and choose your piece/s of stone.

About Elena:
Elena Murgia is an Italian born artist. After studying ceramics in London, her sculpting journey started at the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School in 2017.

She undertook marble carving classes under the guidance of Usama Alnassar who continues to mentor her.  Elena has also been mentored and trained by TBSSS teacher Wendy Black, whom Elena continues to assist on a Wednesday during term time.

Elena participates in national prizes and group exhibitions around the country and had her first solo exhibition in December 2023 at the Clara Street Gallery showcasing works in marble, alabaster, bronze and porcelain.

Through her sculpture she explores the dichotomy between quality and image, inner beauty and the masks we wear to conform to the world, responding to both feminine and the feminist, her past and her present.

*Early bird discount ends midnight 20 January.

Mondays: 28 April - 12 May (3 weeks)
6pm - 9pm

$215.30 (Earlybird)
$240.30 (General)

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 3 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 now fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au, if you would like to be added to the waitlist.

Sat 12 & Sun 13 July, 2025

Fees: $490.30

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.

The July workshop is now fully booked. Please email admin@tbsss.org.au, if you would like to be added to the waitlist. NEW October Workshop added. Scroll down to enrol!