Sculpture from Life

Sculpture from Life runs at Exeter Phoenix on Wednesday 28 October, from 10.30am to 4pm in the Top Studio. It's a one-day workshop where you work from a live model to translate the human form into clay sculptures, with all the materials provided on the day.

The session is led by Sarah John, a practising ceramics and fine artist who teaches regularly at Phoenix. Her own work has long centred on observing human and natural form in both 2D and 3D media, and she describes her approach as learning 'ways to see' to express the world of form around us. The day is built for both beginners and those looking to refine their skills, combining creative exercises with personalised feedback to help you get a better handle on anatomy, proportion and expression.

Because you're working from a live model, the focus is on observation — looking at the person in front of you and figuring out how to bring that into the clay. It's a hands-on day, so you'll be spending most of your time actually making rather than just listening. If you've never touched clay before, it's a good place to start; if you've done it a few times and want to work on the human figure in particular, it'll give you a chance to slow down and look closer.

The workshop costs £58, with a £1.50 ticketing system charge on top. It runs from 10.30am to 4pm in the Top Studio at Exeter Phoenix, and you'll get 10% off food and hot drinks at the Cafe Bar while you're there.