Art Camp: Sculpture, Molds & Casting

with Marlene Collins

Art Camp: Sculpture, Molds & Casting
with Marlene Collins
June 14 – 18, 2021 | 10am – 4pm (lunch 12-1)
$295 | supplies included
Ages 8 – 14 | Maximum 8 participants (pre-registration required)

In this 5-day program, artist Marlene Collins will guide students through exploring a variety of materials such as clay, plaster, polymer clay and alginate to create free standing and wall sculptures. Some of the projects we will do include: making a mold with a clay sculpture and casting it; making a whistle that works; a self-portrait bust; and an archeological dig. Kids will make butterflies from a polymer clay cane that they create. With sculpted bugs and natural objects we gather we will create a forest diorama. The learning and exploration in this tactile camp is gently directed so students are able to experience success, yet still have the joy of self expression.

Notes about this class

• Suitable for kids and youth ages 8-14

• Workshop registration fees are non-refundable

• In accordance with Government of Yukon regulations, masks are mandatory for all participants who are able to wear them. To learn more about how we're staying safe in our studio, visit www.artsunderground.ca/covid-19

Camp Schedule
Day 1
Morning: Intro to hand-building
Afternoon: From artifacts to armature

Morning: Our day begins with pinch pot, slab and coil creations. Our first project will be an elephant cup made using coils and slabs.

Afternoon: A bit of a discussion introducing the concept of found objects and artifacts. Students will be encouraged to bring in their own “artifacts” and meaningful small objects to imprint into clay for our next day project.

No sculpture camp is complete without a papier-mâché project. Students will construct a forest diorama which will be the setting for butterflies and bugs created later in the week using polymer clay.

In preparation for the next day, I photograph the kids at the end of the afternoon, taking front and profile shots to begin work on self portrait busts.

Day 2
Morning: An archeological dig
Afternoon: More armature and block heads

Morning: Some discussion around casting and how it is used in art, environmental science, archeology, etc.

Now that everyone is a bit more comfortable with the medium, students will create an “archeological dig” for casting out of clay. We will use found objects, personal artifacts and natural materials. Once complete we will do a plaster pour into the clay and create a casting.

After drying overnight, students will finish the casting with watercolour washes and chalk pastel.

Afternoon: We begin a clay self portrait bust by creating a newspaper armature and blocking in our main forms including shoulders, neck and head. Just for fun we’ll practice making features such as ears and noses for our next session.

Day 3
Morning: Our defining features
Afternoon: Working in miniature with polymer clay

Morning: Sculpting the features for our bust. Students will make and attach their ears, learn about and sculpt basic facial anatomy and expression as well as blocking in their hair.

In preparation for the afternoon, we will do lunch time scouting for forest textures and objects.

Afternoon: Time to take a break from life size and sculpt some teeny tiny bugs and learn how to make polymer clay butterfly canes for a fantastic forest diorama.

Day 4
Morning: An exploration in multiples
Afternoon: Thumbs up

Morning:

• A few final touch ups to our portrait bust.

• Students will take a box and sculpt an object for each side of the box out of air-dry clay. Objects could be four faces, four hands, feet, etc. When the sculptures have dried overnight, we will put a coat of protective finish on them. Once the finish is dry, they can be mounted on the box.

Afternoon:

• Body casting with alginate! Time to create a thumb mold and cast with plaster. We’ll let it dry overnight and finish with a thin coat of protective acrylic paint.

• Paper sculpting: an installation of origami birds that carry words and text created by and important to the students.

Day 5
Morning – Afternoon: The finish line!

• Hollow out the heads for drying. This is a super fun part of the process! Kids cut the sculpture in half and carefully remove excess clay and paper; the halves are rejoined and put aside to dry for firing.

• Paint our thumb castings.

• Paint and attach our faces (or hands or feet or ears) to the box.

• If time allows, spend a bit more time working on our installation.

• A bit of a show and tell and celebration to end the camp!