Get inspired by the art of the Renaissance on this unique course. Explore some traditional techniques and approaches to making sculpture and create two sculptures to take away. Research and gather ideas with your tutor at the V&A Museum, then come back to the sculpture studio to develop and produce one relief and one 3D object by modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.
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.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
On this course, we will use the art and objects of the Renaissance as a springboard to develop our own sculptures. Taking inspiration from the V&A’s Renaissance galleries, we will explore key forms and themes of this period as well as learning to work with some of the materials and processes that Renaissance sculptors used. Bringing your own ideas and life experience to the table, you will use a playful and experimental approach to create two small sculptures, a pewter plaquette and a wax statuette, that respond to the Renaissance as well as having relevance to contemporary life and art.
This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to those with more experience.
What will we cover?
Research visit to the V&A Renaissance Galleries.
Developing personal ideas from art historical sources.
Demonstrations of sculpture processes/techniques including modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.
Designing, modelling and casting small-scale sculpture.
Using experimentation to further develop our work.
Review and idea development through discussion.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Use art historical sources and references in your work.
Design and create a clay model for a small relief sculpture.
Make a plaster block mould and pewter cast a small relief sculpture.
Create a wire armature and clay model for a small 3D sculpture.
Make a silicone block mould and wax cast a small 3D sculpture.
Work with these materials and processes safely.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to those with more experience.
You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through museum visits, demonstrations, practical work, individual and group tuition, pair work, group discussion.
Additional/extension tasks may be set for you to complete at home and outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you during each session.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Materials and Equipment All materials required for the course, are provided.
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 Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes-no sandals or open-toed footwear. Wearing old clothes or overalls is strongly recommended, as some materials may stain or damage fabric.
Health and Safety Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn where required. This includes items such as facemasks when working with materials that may release 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.
Rebecca Stevenson studied sculpture at Chelsea College of Art and the Royal College of Art. She exhibits internationally in art fairs, museum and gallery shows and also collaborates with historic buildings and collections. In 2023, she was artist in residence at the V&A South Kensington, where she created and exhibited new work in response to the exhibition 'Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance’. In 2024 she was commissioned by the National Trust to create a large scale installation celebrating women artists for Beningbrough Hall, York. Rebecca’s work is influenced by art historical sources such as Baroque sculpture and still life painting. She works with materials including wax, bronze, clay, plaster and glass, combining traditional and unconventional approaches to the making and meaning of sculpture. She has taught at institutions including University of the Arts London, University for the Creative Arts, Kingston University, City & Guilds of London Art School and the V&A Young Peoples Programme. Her approach to teaching is playful, inclusive and open, focussed on enabling students to find and revel in their individual interests and strengths.
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/sculpture-renaissance-inspirations3108127Sculpture: Renaissance inspirationshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/r/e/renaissance_1024x1024.jpg499499GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture/Ceramics & pottery/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture/Sculpture/Courses/Art & design/Ceramics & sculpture228511321143114714311228511321431<p>Get inspired by the art of the Renaissance on this unique course. Explore some traditional techniques and approaches to making sculpture and create two sculptures to take away. Research and gather ideas with your tutor at the V&A Museum, then come back to the sculpture studio to develop and produce one relief and one 3D object by modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</p>003066976Sculpture: Renaissance inspirations499499https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/r/e/renaissance_1024x1024_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekend2027-06-13T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2027Art & designVU703499499Sculpture: Renaissance inspirations399324499Rebecca Stevensonsculpture-renaissance-inspirations/vu703-2627<p>Get inspired by the art of the Renaissance on this unique course. Explore some traditional techniques and approaches to making sculpture and create two sculptures to take away. Research and gather ideas with your tutor at the V&A Museum, then come back to the sculpture studio to develop and produce one relief and one 3D object by modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</p>0000-Available|2027-06-13 00:00:00<p><em>On this course, we will use the art and objects of the Renaissance as a springboard to develop our own sculptures. Taking inspiration from the V&A’s Renaissance galleries, we will explore key forms and themes of this period as well as learning to work with some of the materials and processes that Renaissance sculptors used. Bringing your own ideas and life experience to the table, you will use a playful and experimental approach to create two small sculptures, a pewter plaquette and a wax statuette, that respond to the Renaissance as well as having relevance to contemporary life and art.</em></p><p><em>This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to those with more experience. </em></p><p>Get inspired by the art of the Renaissance on this unique course. Explore some traditional techniques and approaches to making sculpture and create two sculptures to take away. Research and gather ideas with your tutor at the V&A Museum, then come back to the sculpture studio to develop and produce one relief and one 3D object by modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</p><ul><li>Research visit to the V&A Renaissance Galleries.</li><li>Developing personal ideas from art historical sources.</li><li>Demonstrations of sculpture processes/techniques including modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</li><li>Designing, modelling and casting small-scale sculpture.</li><li>Using experimentation to further develop our work.</li><li>Review and idea development through discussion. </li></ul><ul><li>Use art historical sources and references in your work.</li><li>Design and create a clay model for a small relief sculpture.</li><li>Make a plaster block mould and pewter cast a small relief sculpture.</li><li>Create a wire armature and clay model for a small 3D sculpture.</li><li>Make a silicone block mould and wax cast a small 3D sculpture.</li><li>Work with these materials and processes safely.</li></ul><p><em>This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to those with more experience. </em></p><p><em>You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.</em></p><p>You will be taught through museum visits, demonstrations, practical work, individual and group tuition, pair work, group discussion.</p><p><em>Additional/extension tasks may be set for you to complete at home and outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you during each session.</em></p><p><strong>Materials and Equipment</strong><br>All materials required for the course, are provided.</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><strong>What to Wear</strong><br>Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes-no sandals or open-toed footwear. Wearing old clothes or overalls is strongly recommended, as some materials may stain or damage fabric.</p><p><strong>Health and Safety</strong><br>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn where required. This includes items such as facemasks when working with materials that may release 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 <a href="mailto:visualarts@citylit.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visualarts@citylit.ac.uk</a> or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm. </p>Ceramics & sculptureCeramics & potteryArt & designCeramics & sculptureSculpturevirtual399499324VU703NONESun13/06/27 - 18/07/2710:30 - 16:3010:3016:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetRebecca StevensonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2027-06-13T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2027Art & design499499Sculpture: Renaissance inspirationssculpture-renaissance-inspirations/vu703-2627<p>Get inspired by the art of the Renaissance on this unique course. Explore some traditional techniques and approaches to making sculpture and create two sculptures to take away. Research and gather ideas with your tutor at the V&amp;A Museum, then come back to the sculpture studio to develop and produce one relief and one 3D object by modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</p>0000-Available|2027-06-13 00:00:00<p><em>On this course, we will use the art and objects of the Renaissance as a springboard to develop our own sculptures. Taking inspiration from the V&amp;A’s Renaissance galleries, we will explore key forms and themes of this period as well as learning to work with some of the materials and processes that Renaissance sculptors used. Bringing your own ideas and life experience to the table, you will use a playful and experimental approach to create two small sculptures, a pewter plaquette and a wax statuette, that respond to the Renaissance as well as having relevance to contemporary life and art.</em></p><p><em>This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to those with more experience. </em></p><p>Get inspired by the art of the Renaissance on this unique course. Explore some traditional techniques and approaches to making sculpture and create two sculptures to take away. Research and gather ideas with your tutor at the V&amp;A Museum, then come back to the sculpture studio to develop and produce one relief and one 3D object by modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</p><ul><li>Research visit to the V&amp;A Renaissance Galleries.</li><li>Developing personal ideas from art historical sources.</li><li>Demonstrations of sculpture processes/techniques including modelling and casting in clay, plaster, pewter and wax.</li><li>Designing, modelling and casting small-scale sculpture.</li><li>Using experimentation to further develop our work.</li><li>Review and idea development through discussion. </li></ul><ul><li>Use art historical sources and references in your work.</li><li>Design and create a clay model for a small relief sculpture.</li><li>Make a plaster block mould and pewter cast a small relief sculpture.</li><li>Create a wire armature and clay model for a small 3D sculpture.</li><li>Make a silicone block mould and wax cast a small 3D sculpture.</li><li>Work with these materials and processes safely.</li></ul><p><em>This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to those with more experience. </em></p><p><em>You should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be encouraged to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.</em></p><p>You will be taught through museum visits, demonstrations, practical work, individual and group tuition, pair work, group discussion.</p><p><em>Additional/extension tasks may be set for you to complete at home and outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you during each session.</em></p><p><strong>Materials and Equipment</strong><br>All materials required for the course, are provided.</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><strong>What to Wear</strong><br>Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes-no sandals or open-toed footwear. Wearing old clothes or overalls is strongly recommended, as some materials may stain or damage fabric.</p><p><strong>Health and Safety</strong><br>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn where required. This includes items such as facemasks when working with materials that may release 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 <a href="mailto:visualarts@citylit.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visualarts@citylit.ac.uk</a> or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm. </p>Ceramics & sculptureCeramics & potteryArt & designCeramics & sculptureSculptureconfigurable
