Community Creative Center

Learn to sculpt expressive, figurative forms in clay with ceramic artist and Community Creative Center’s Artist-in-Residence, Chrystal O’Boyle. Explore anatomy, proportion, and surface techniques to bring your ceramic figures to life.

This six-week class introduces figure sculpture through hands-on ceramic projects that explore the human form. We’ll begin with a small hanging portrait to learn facial construction and build comfort with the material. From there, students will create a small, full-bodied figure using coil-building techniques, with demos on proportion, gesture, and detail. The class ends with surface treatments—either glazing or cold finishing—to bring each piece to life.

6-Week Schedule

Week 1 – Pinch Pot Hanging Heads

Intro to facial sculpting. Students make a small hanging head to get comfortable with clay and show their working style.

Week 2 – Begin Big Project: Coil-Built Figure (Body + Legs)

Demo on coil-building torsos and legs. Students begin their full-body sculptures.

Week 3 – Continue Big Project: Arms, Head + Details

Demos on arms, head construction, and refining facial features and gestures.

Week 4 – Workday + Final Builds

Work session with optional demos. Goal: finish construction and begin controlled drying.

Week 5 – Drying & Optional Bonus Project

Place figures on the bisque shelf for a slow, monitored fire. Optional project: body-part cup (ear cup, nose vase, etc.) or a glaze/cold-surface demo.

Week 6 – Surface Treatments

Students choose between glazing or cold finishing (e.g. watercolor + wax) and finalize their work.