Hi my name is Gosia and in this workshop I will guide you through creating a small ceramic figure, with emphasis on painting the sculpture with acrylic paints.

Workshop Overview

The steps I’ll guide you through are the same ones I use to create most of my ceramic pieces. This course is valuable for experienced artists, as I’ll be demonstrating surface painting techniques I’ve developed personally, while also being inspiring and accessible for beginners.

I want to show you how you can create an impressive piece of art right from a corner of your home.
You don’t need a large studio, a kiln, or advanced glazing skills to get started.

Please note: ceramics painted with acrylics are for indoor use only and are not suitable for food or liquids.

This workshop will teach you the technical steps to create a fired ceramic sculpture from start to finish, while also removing much of the intimidation that prevents so many from trying this wonderful medium. By painting fired ceramic clay with traditional acrylic paints, you gain greater control over the final look of your piece — the possibilities are endless!

Workshop Steps

1. Setting up your sculpting workspace & safety habits
2. Creating base & armature
3. Handbuilding the figure
4. Preparing sculpture for kiln firing
5. Outsourcing kiln firing
6. Setting up your painting workspace
7. Preparing fired clay for paint
8. Painting fired clay with acrylics
9. Varnishing
10. Feeling very proud of yourself!

After this workshop, you could be making amazing work like this:

Required Materials:

Sculpting /Painting Workspace:
table or sculpting stand, chair or stool, window or a good light

Armature:
tabletop turntable 10-12"
or
lazy susan bearings 6", melamine board 12x12x1", 1/2“ pipe, 1/2” Fitting Floor Flange, drill/screwdriver, screws, electric tape, pliable wire

Sculpting:
clay (without grog), various sculpting tools (including a wire tool and long knife) , various sized brushes, water containers, water spray bottle, sponge(s), hairdryer, cotton cloth (white t-shirt will do just fine!), plastic bag (big enough to wrap your sculpture), masking tape

Painting:
painter’s gesso, painter’s acrylic matte paints, various brushes, water container(s), palette or palette paper, old cloth, sponges, hairdryer

Varnishing:
glossy acrylic varnish, matte acrylic varnish, brushes, water container, gloves

About the Artist:

Gosia’s art is rooted in a need to process the world, society and her own life’s experiences. Her creative process strives to filter out the dark in search of beauty, innocence and spirituality. Her otherworldly characters poetically personify her deep emotions. At first glance these figures appear still, but their gentle expressions, graceful gestures and haunting gazes reveal a storm of inward contemplation. She uses various symbols as metaphors to further reveal their inner turmoil. Their resonating quality lies in capturing moments normally expressed in private, yet she freezes them and allows us as long and as close of a look as we want. Inanimate objects become intimate as we see ourselves reflected in them.

Gosia was born in Poland in 1982, and moved to Canada in 1994. Her background in Illustration from Sheridan College, and early career as a painter have led her to passion for sculpting. Since fully dedicating herself to this medium in 2013, her sculptural works have been exhibited in galleries across North America and Europe. She is currently living and working in Prince Edward County, Canada.

Website: www.gosia.ca

Instagram: @gosiafineart