Art Blog

Sculpture Workshop: Anatomical Studies with Alex Trapani

Alex Trapani presents an Anatomical Studies Sculpture Workshop in Johannesburg from 24 - 25 February 2018. Trapani will show you examples of sculpted studies that you can compare your own work to, good reference material, links to tutorials and other great artist. For this workshop, Trapani references from the greats, such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo and will also be sculpting his own study with you so that you get a live, real time example of how it is done.

Day 1: Focus on proportion: looking at the measurements of the human body and understanding the comparative scales (sizing-up) between different body parts. From here it becomes important to translate the understanding into the wire armature. There are a number of possible ways to put an armature together and we will discuss and experiment with a couple of these on the day. What is essential at this point is providing the right support for the wire armature. Depending on which body part/s you intend on making, how you secure the wire to that will be determined on the day. I will be providing the wooden base and upright attached to which you will secure the wire. From there we focus on the skeleton and how this becomes a support for the muscles, flesh and skin.

Day 2: Anatomical correctness: Remember, this is a sculptural study. In this case, accuracy is only dependent on appearance and getting things to be 100% biologically correct is not a matter of life and death. If it looks right then it is good enough. At this point my hope is that my experience should be most beneficial to you in order to get that form right. Practice makes perfect and how true that is in sculpting anatomical studies. Covering the skeleton with muscles is the priority from here on out. It may take the whole morning to get as far as the muscles, but that is good enough. If you happen to get further and can start building layers of skin and surface detail that is great, but it is far more important to get those muscles, sinews and tendons right. However, if you are a fast worker and want to make more than one study you are most welcome. Everybody works at a different pace and this workshop will accommodate that. I have designed the workshop to assist and build on skills, knowledge, direction and observation. You should not feel rushed or too pressured, and the hope is that you leave with a sense of achievement having at least one good example of a study to prove that.

Date and times: 24 and 25 February 2018 from 09:00 - 13:00.

Venue: Gordon Froud's Studios, 13 Nugget Square Studios, 131 Albert Street, Johannesburg.

Cost: R1 800. R490 for a materials kit containing sculpting clay. Invite a friend and they join us, you will receive a further 10% discount (discount limited to 1 guest per registered attendee).

For more information, email Alex Trapani on alextrapani@gmail.com.