Category: Classes

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Sculpting Subtle Expressions with Arthur Gonzalez

When sculpting insecurity, mischief, skepticism, jealousy, contentment… asymmetry is key.


These beautiful works were created by students in Arthur Gonzalez’s recent workshop: “When Sculpture Talks Back.”

THE POWER OF SUBTLETY

Arthur is intrigued by the storytelling possibilities of understated, human expressions. For him, “a subtler expression is more alive. It has a longer existence.”

In his workshop, students explored how minute changes, like a slight turn at the corner of a mouth, tilt of the head, or an asymmetrical element like an eyebrow can create complex, intriguing emotion.

“We all know how to read faces,” he says. And if you can see it in real life… you can sculpt it.”

INSIDE-OUT TECHNIQUE

The class achieved their impressive results using Arthur’s preferred “inside-out”-technique.

Starting with a pinch pot head, they learned to add and subtract clay, pushing from the inside to create a cheekbone and from the outside to create an eye socket, for example.

COLLECTIVE ENERGY

These sculptures definitely have a lot to say. Arthur said, “This class had a beautiful, collective energy. They were a very talented group and even those without experience did really well.”

Want to experience clay at Penland? We will be announcing our spring 2025 lineup later this month…

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Tina Curry Empowers Students to Tell Stories in Clay

Tina Curry is known for her expressive animal sculptures, and her work and workshops are both highly coveted. During Penland’s first summer session, we had the opportunity to learn from Tina, and at the end of four mind-expanding days, students of all levels (including beginners) found that they had sculpted a bevy of delightful creatures beyond their imagining.

Coveted Experience
The folks who attended Tina’s “Creative Animal Sculpture” workshop filled her roster in the first few minutes of enrollment back in January.

Students Donna and Penny have been exploring clay together for fifteen years. Donna had been trying to take a workshop with Tina for over two years after meeting her through Tierra Madre, a women’s pottery group in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Penny had never tried making sculpture and was eager to learn anything that Tina had to share. “She was so patient,”  said Penny. “What was lovely was that she spent so much time with each person. She showed me how to do the ears six times!”

Work by students Penny and Donna

Telling Stories in Clay
When asking why she loves sculpting animals, Tina had this to say,

I always work with animals. I grew up with horses. When I look at animals, I see their personalities. I don’t just see a rabbit. I see that’s a rabbit who’s looking for his friends and who’s out playing. When I sit and sculpt, I think about stories. Of course, I like the technicality of being able to know the anatomy, but I always like that little tweak of personality that makes them fun.

Tina working on a rabbit 

The Process
For this workshop, Tina brought a book full of reference pictures: different animals in different poses. Her goal was to challenge students to go beyond their comfort zone. She also encouraged each student to name their animal and create a story for them.

Ruby the rabbit

Tina had this to say about the arc of her workshop:

It’s intimidating at first, but once they get into the process, they become a part of the piece and their imaginations go and that’s the best part. They all start off with the same structure, but then as they work, they start to see things they didn’t see before. I know when people see the class description they think it’s very structured and it is in the beginning. But when students realize that they can go all out, it blooms. There’s so much talent here. It’s a beginning class, and the beginners have done exceptionally well.

Meet Some Animal Friends
We are excited to share some of the charming work created during Tina’s workshop.

 

Are you interested in exploring clay at Penland? Click HERE to view our upcoming workshops!

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New Neon Setup


Flux capacitor? Nope! This is a processing manifold for working with neon and making plasma.

Teaching “Plasma, Neon, and Beyond” in the Penland glass studio this past week, Wayne Strattman and David Wilson put this new, permanent Penland equipment to excellent use.

Student Kerik Kouklis made some awesome drumsticks!

The manifold was made to spec for this class and future Penland classes by Morgan Crook and studio coordinator Nick Fruin over a period of several years. It’s got valves, gases, gauges, and a kiln for baking out any moisture before glass tubes are evacuated and then filled with inert gasses (neon, argon, xenon, and krypton) that make them glow so beautifully when in their plasma state.

With this sweet setup, you can expect neon classes at Penland for years to come.

David and Wayne have taught at Penland countless times and have been instrumental in growing our neon program. Indeed, David was the studio assistant for Penland’s very first neon workshop in 1993 with Jacob Fishman!