Face and Skull Anatomy Workshop with Georgina Mills

Sculpting a human skull and its anatomy is an important study to understand the basic structure of the face which ultimately adds to one’s deeper understanding of portraiture.

This is an intensive workshop aimed at improving the student’s knowledge of the skull, the facial features, muscles of the face, observational skills and sculpture techniques.

In this workshop Georgina will cover the fundamentals of the skull and face universal to all. She will also introduce students to a sculptural method which helps them to place depth as well as find and place points of reference on their sculpture accurately. Then working from a life size plaster cast students will sculpt their own skull in water base clay.

After this Georgina will introduce the facial features, breaking down the eye, lips and nose into understandable form and structure. Followed by the facial muscles and how they interact with the skull, facial features and each other. Students will then, step by step place the features and muscles on half of the skull helping them understand the anatomy of the face and more importantly what they are seeing in portraiture.

Lastly students will take their skull off the armature, to hollow out, take home, dry and then fire at their own convenience (students are responsible for their own firing)

This workshop is suitable for beginners in sculpture and for portrait enthusiasts across all platforms.

Over the course of the workshop Georgina will give group demos, lectures and daily individual critiques to help to guide the students through this process.

Materials, clay and armature are to be supplied by TBSSS – firing it to be sourced individually by the students. Please note there is always a risk associated when firing clay.

Tea and coffee are provided.

Maximum 10 students.

Day 1 – introduction to the skull and technique – sculpting.

Day 2 – sculpting the skull.

Day 3 – introduction to the facial features, starting to place the muscles.

Day 4 – finishing the facial features and hollowing out.