Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn clay sculpture
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Modelling a head or a figure in clay teaches you to see form in three dimensions, building out from an armature to the muscles and features of a real sitter. Many classes work from a live model and fire the finished piece for you.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What you actually do
Unlike throwing pots, this is modelling. On City Lit's portrait head course you build an armature, learn some of the facial muscles and use clay to convey mood and character, working from one life model across the term, then prepare the head for firing. Gage Academy's class in Seattle starts with measuring and head anatomy and works outward from the skull to the muscles, fat pads and features of a life-size head.
You do not need to draw first. West Dean says no prior drawing or sculpting skills are needed for its portrait heads day, and the Art Students League of New York says no previous art experience is needed to begin its classes. City Lit's three-day introduction lets you make a small realistic or abstract sculpture, which is fired after the course.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Introduction to clay sculpture; beginners; 3 daytime sessions (June 2026 run) | £249 |
| West Dean College, West Sussex | Introduction to portrait heads in terracotta; one day's timetable, 9.15am to 5pm, with a model, clay and tools supplied | £183 |
| City Lit, London | Clay sculpture: portrait head; 12 Monday evenings from April 2027; one life model all term | £619 (£495 senior, £402 concession) |
| Gage Academy of Art, Seattle | Portrait Sculpting; all levels; Thursday evenings, September to November; clay provided | $730 |
| Art Students League of New York | Ongoing monthly classes, including Ceramics Sculpture (figurative work in terracotta); start any time | $100 annual registration fee plus monthly tuition (see the League's catalogue) |
How to start
- Try a short introduction or a one-day portrait-head workshop with clay, tools and a model supplied.
- If you like it, book a term-long portrait or figure class, where you work from one model over several weeks.
- Ask how and when fired work is collected, because it has to dry for weeks first and finished heads are heavy.
Where to go
- City Lit, London: Clay sculpture: portrait head UK
- West Dean College: Introduction to portrait heads in terracotta UK
- Gage Academy of Art, Seattle: Portrait Sculpting US
- Art Students League of New York: sculpture classes US
We opened these links on 10 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between pottery and clay sculpture?
Pottery on the wheel makes vessels; clay sculpture models forms such as a head or figure, often over an armature. City Lit's portrait course has you build an armature and model a head from a life model.
Do I need to be able to draw to do sculpture?
No. West Dean says no prior drawing or sculpting skills are needed for its portrait heads day, and the Art Students League says no previous art experience is needed.
Can you fire a clay sculpture head?
Yes. City Lit and West Dean fire finished work; City Lit says it must dry completely first, which can take several weeks.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Clay sculpture: portrait head; City Lit, Introduction to clay sculpture; West Dean College, Introduction to portrait heads in terracotta with Jon Edgar; Gage Academy of Art, Portrait Sculpting; Art Students League of New York, Sculpture; Art Students League of New York, How to get started. Opened 10 November 2026.
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