This course moves between creative contexts to introduce a core set of transferable skills in clay modelling, mould making, and casting. Through practical projects, you will gain hands-on experience with these materials and processes, building skills you can apply in professional settings or personal creative practice.
During this course you will gain experience using air dry clay and polymer clay for modelling objects. Sculpti...
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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This 10-week course offers an exciting opportunity to explore modelling for film, theatre, retail display, and public sculpture.
You will learn how to design and create models and sculptures suited to a wide range of creative industries. Practical teaching will cover processes such as:
Clay modelling.
Plaster sculpting with armatures (in the style of Giacometti).
Mould making (in silicone rubber and dental alginate).
Casting (with materials such as Jesmonite, plaster, and liquid plastic).
Working in City Lit’s sculpture studio, you will experiment with materials, discuss key techniques, and draw inspiration from sculptural traditions. You will develop small 3D models using clay, plaster, latex, chicken wire, and other media, while gaining confidence in foundational model-making skills within a supportive, hands-on environment.
What will we cover?
You will be introduced to a range of modelling techniques and approaches, including:
Armatures
Slab building
Plaster drop-out moulds
Balloon sculpture technique
Bas relief
Coil building
Portrait busts
Clay block reverse sculpting (clay moulds)
Plaster multi-piece moulds
Direct clay modelling
Direct wet plaster modelling
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Create a clay bas relief, mould, cast, and finish it with metallic effects.
Sculpt a stylised bust or animal in air-dry clay.
Learn the role of armatures and build supporting structures from wood, metal, foil, or chicken wire.
Mix plaster and produce both single and multi-piece moulds.
Make a silicone rubber mould.
Create a life cast using dental alginate and cast it in Jesmonite.
Use polystyrene and chicken wire as bulk armatures, refined with plaster bandage and liquid plaster.
Experiment with plaster casting in unconventional containers, such as balloons, to create unique forms.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is designed for beginners, but is also well suited to those with some experience, or those returning to making who wish to refresh their skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be fully supported by a specialist tutor. Teaching methods include demonstrations by the tutor to the whole group, practical activities, and one-to-one feedback and guidance.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Materials and Equipment
There are no additional costs - all essential materials and equipment are included in the course fee.
Please bring a sketchbook, pencils, and a pen for sketching and note-taking. A camera or smartphone is also useful for documenting your work in progress.
What to Wear
For your safety, when in the City Lit sculptural studio, please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes - no sandals or open-toe footwear. Wearing old clothes or overalls is strongly recommended, as some materials may mark or damage fabrics.
Health and Safety
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn when required. This may include items such as facemasks, particularly when working with materials that generate dust or other airborne particles.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course, you may wish to join a similar course to develop your skills further, or try something completely different. We offer courses in prop making, metal, clay, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting, and much more! Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps you build your individual sculpture practice.
Please ask your tutor for advice, browse the City Lit website for inspiration, or contact our Visual Arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm.
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/public-sculpture-theatre-retail-film3030019Public sculpture: theatre, retail, filmhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/City-Lit-sculpture-1024.jpg799799GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture/Sculpture/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture22851132114714311228511321431<p>This course moves between creative contexts to introduce a core set of transferable skills in clay modelling, mould making, and casting. Through practical projects, you will gain hands-on experience with these materials and processes, building skills you can apply in professional settings or personal creative practice.</p><p>During this course you will gain experience using air dry clay and polymer clay for modelling objects. Sculpting and carving will be explored using polystyrene and plaster.</p>003029950Public sculpture: theatre, retail, film799799https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/City-Lit-sculpture-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-25T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Art & designVU116799799Public sculpture: theatre, retail, film639519799David Fieldpublic-sculpture-theatre-retail-film/vu116-2627<p>This course moves between creative contexts to introduce a core set of transferable skills in clay modelling, mould making, and casting. Through practical projects, you will gain hands-on experience with these materials and processes, building skills you can apply in professional settings or personal creative practice.</p><p>During this course you will gain experience using air dry clay and polymer clay for modelling objects. Sculpting and carving will be explored using polystyrene and plaster.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-25 00:00:00<p>This 10-week course offers an exciting opportunity to explore modelling for film, theatre, retail display, and public sculpture.</p><p>You will learn how to design and create models and sculptures suited to a wide range of creative industries. Practical teaching will cover processes such as:</p><ul><li>Clay modelling.</li><li>Plaster sculpting with armatures (in the style of Giacometti).</li><li>Mould making (in silicone rubber and dental alginate).</li><li>Casting (with materials such as Jesmonite, plaster, and liquid plastic).</li></ul><p>Working in City Lit’s sculpture studio, you will experiment with materials, discuss key techniques, and draw inspiration from sculptural traditions. You will develop small 3D models using clay, plaster, latex, chicken wire, and other media, while gaining confidence in foundational model-making skills within a supportive, hands-on environment.</p><p>This course moves between creative contexts to introduce a core set of transferable skills in clay modelling, mould making, and casting. Through practical projects, you will gain hands-on experience with these materials and processes, building skills you can apply in professional settings or personal creative practice.</p><p>During this course you will gain experience using air dry clay and polymer clay for modelling objects. Sculpting and carving will be explored using polystyrene and plaster.</p><p>You will be introduced to a range of modelling techniques and approaches, including:</p><ul><li>Armatures</li><li>Slab building </li><li>Plaster drop-out moulds </li><li>Balloon sculpture technique</li><li>Bas relief</li><li>Coil building</li><li>Portrait busts</li><li>Clay block reverse sculpting (clay moulds)</li><li>Plaster multi-piece moulds</li><li>Direct clay modelling</li><li>Direct wet plaster modelling</li></ul><ul><li>Create a clay bas relief, mould, cast, and finish it with metallic effects.</li><li>Sculpt a stylised bust or animal in air-dry clay.</li><li>Learn the role of armatures and build supporting structures from wood, metal, foil, or chicken wire.</li><li>Mix plaster and produce both single and multi-piece moulds.</li><li>Make a silicone rubber mould.</li><li>Create a life cast using dental alginate and cast it in Jesmonite.</li><li>Use polystyrene and chicken wire as bulk armatures, refined with plaster bandage and liquid plaster.</li><li>Experiment with plaster casting in unconventional containers, such as balloons, to create unique forms.</li></ul><p>This course is designed for beginners, but is also well suited to those with some experience, or those returning to making who wish to refresh their skills.</p><p>You will be fully supported by a specialist tutor. Teaching methods include demonstrations by the tutor to the whole group, practical activities, and one-to-one feedback and guidance.</p><p><strong>Materials and Equipment</strong> </p><p>There are no additional costs - all essential materials and equipment are included in the course fee.</p><p>Please bring a sketchbook, pencils, and a pen for sketching and note-taking. A camera or smartphone is also useful for documenting your work in progress.</p><p><br><strong>What to Wear</strong></p><p>For your safety, when in the City Lit sculptural studio, please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes - no sandals or open-toe footwear. Wearing old clothes or overalls is strongly recommended, as some materials may mark or damage fabrics.</p><p><strong>Health and Safety</strong></p><p>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn when required. This may include items such as facemasks, particularly when working with materials that generate dust or other airborne particles.</p><p>The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course, you may wish to join a similar course to develop your skills further, or try something completely different. We offer courses in prop making, metal, clay, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting, and much more! Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps you build your individual sculpture practice.</p><p>Please ask your tutor for advice, browse the City Lit website for inspiration, or contact our Visual Arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm. </p>Ceramics & sculptureSculpturevirtual639799519VU116NONEFri25/09/26 - 04/12/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetDavid FieldAvailable courses2026-09-25T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Art & design799799Public sculpture: theatre, retail, filmpublic-sculpture-theatre-retail-film/vu116-2627<p>This course moves between creative contexts to introduce a core set of transferable skills in clay modelling, mould making, and casting. Through practical projects, you will gain hands-on experience with these materials and processes, building skills you can apply in professional settings or personal creative practice.</p><p>During this course you will gain experience using air dry clay and polymer clay for modelling objects.&nbsp;Sculpting and carving will be explored using polystyrene and plaster.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-25 00:00:00<p>This 10-week course offers an exciting opportunity to explore modelling for film, theatre, retail display, and public sculpture.</p><p>You will learn how to design and create models and sculptures suited to a wide range of creative industries. Practical teaching will cover processes such as:</p><ul><li>Clay modelling.</li><li>Plaster sculpting with armatures (in the style of Giacometti).</li><li>Mould making (in silicone rubber and dental alginate).</li><li>Casting (with materials such as Jesmonite, plaster, and liquid plastic).</li></ul><p>Working in City Lit’s sculpture studio, you will experiment with materials, discuss key techniques, and draw inspiration from sculptural traditions. You will develop small 3D models using clay, plaster, latex, chicken wire, and other media, while gaining confidence in foundational model-making skills within a supportive, hands-on environment.</p><p>This course moves between creative contexts to introduce a core set of transferable skills in clay modelling, mould making, and casting. Through practical projects, you will gain hands-on experience with these materials and processes, building skills you can apply in professional settings or personal creative practice.</p><p>During this course you will gain experience using air dry clay and polymer clay for modelling objects.&nbsp;Sculpting and carving will be explored using polystyrene and plaster.</p><p>You will be introduced to a range of modelling techniques and approaches, including:</p><ul><li>Armatures</li><li>Slab building&nbsp;</li><li>Plaster drop-out moulds&nbsp;</li><li>Balloon sculpture technique</li><li>Bas relief</li><li>Coil building</li><li>Portrait busts</li><li>Clay block reverse sculpting (clay moulds)</li><li>Plaster multi-piece moulds</li><li>Direct clay modelling</li><li>Direct wet plaster modelling</li></ul><ul><li>Create a clay bas relief, mould, cast, and finish it with metallic effects.</li><li>Sculpt a stylised bust or animal in air-dry clay.</li><li>Learn the role of armatures and build supporting structures from wood, metal, foil, or chicken wire.</li><li>Mix plaster and produce both single and multi-piece moulds.</li><li>Make a silicone rubber mould.</li><li>Create a life cast using dental alginate and cast it in Jesmonite.</li><li>Use polystyrene and chicken wire as bulk armatures, refined with plaster bandage and liquid plaster.</li><li>Experiment with plaster casting in unconventional containers, such as balloons, to create unique forms.</li></ul><p>This course is designed for beginners, but is also well suited to those with some experience, or those returning to making who wish to refresh their skills.</p><p>You will be fully supported by a specialist tutor. Teaching methods include demonstrations by the tutor to the whole group, practical activities, and one-to-one feedback and guidance.</p><p><strong>Materials and Equipment</strong> </p><p>There are no additional costs - all essential materials and equipment are included in the course fee.</p><p>Please bring a sketchbook, pencils, and a pen for sketching and note-taking. A camera or smartphone is also useful for documenting your work in progress.</p><p><br><strong>What to Wear</strong></p><p>For your safety, when in the City Lit sculptural studio, please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes - no sandals or open-toe footwear. Wearing old clothes or overalls is strongly recommended, as some materials may mark or damage fabrics.</p><p><strong>Health and Safety</strong></p><p>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn when required. This may include items such as facemasks, particularly when working with materials that generate dust or other airborne particles.</p><p>The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course, you may wish to join a similar course to develop your skills further, or try something completely different. We offer courses in prop making, metal, clay, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting, and much more! Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps you build your individual sculpture practice.</p><p>Please ask your tutor for advice, browse the City Lit website for inspiration, or contact our Visual Arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm.&nbsp;</p>Ceramics & sculptureSculptureconfigurable
