March Monday Morning Sculpture: Anatomy of the Portrait Head with Steve Perkins

Anatomy of the Portrait Head: cranium and cervical column/musculature/surface morphology and the mechanics of facial expression

Monday mornings, 9:30-12:30 AM

This class is designed to give artists a literal deep understanding of the forms of the head and neck and the muscular movements that create the facial expressions.

Students can work either in clay on an armature or by using charcoal from varied positions. An individual likeness is not the goal of the class. Rather, it is the understanding of the universal nature of the forms of the head that we are pursuing. Every ear or nose or forehead are the same in their essential structure. If you know what comprise one, you know them all. It is precise individual proportions that create the individual.

We will start by creating a skull and neck either in clay or in charcoal from front and profile views. Following that, the muscles will be applied. The malleability of charcoal allows for this. Rather than a sitting model, we shall use a skull, skeleton and clay demonstration as our models here. The eyes will be added along with the cartilage of the nose and ears.

The surface form or morphology is the next layer as we rise to the surface in our charcoal drawings or clay models. This will include fat deposits, hair patterns and characteristics and the veiling aspect of the surface flesh.

Finally, the moments of the muscles and the specific ways in which they create the six major facial examinations and combinations thereof will be undertaken.

Materials:
For clay modeling: a sturdy life size head armature,
Plasteline clay is recommended as it creates less dust in the studio, soft plasteline is better. “DaVinci” soft grade is a good choice available from Chevant clay co. Modeling tools

For charcoal: multiple drawings will be done. One primarily from the side and one from the front. They will be at or slightly below life size. Anything except compressed charcoal is acceptable. Paper should be sturdy, capable of multiple alterations.

Date: March 7, 14, 21, & 28
Course Price:  $200 (Model fee included) + $10 Registration fee