Bird Watching, Bird Sculpting with Sarah J Conti — Sep 4 - 7
Learn how to sculpt a bird in flight.
Learn how to sculpt a bird in flight.
Learn how to sculpt a bird in flight.
Dates: September 4, 2025 → September 7, 2025
Times: 10 am to 4 or 5 pm each day
Level: All levels
Membership Price: $650 (Members use discount code MEMBERS10 at checkout to receive 10% off)
Workshop Description:
For this workshop we will start by taking a bird-watching walk down to the beach and observing native species. In the studio we will each sculpt a wall-hanging bird in flight. We will first print reference photos and I will share where I find images and information about species and what I look for in a good reference.
We will start by solid sculpting the bird's body and head. While the clay 'sets up' we will sculpt the wings and tail of the bird. We will hollow the body of the bird, and then detail the face. I'll share how I sculpt the eyes and beaks and discuss the intricacies of different types of birds. I'll discuss how I hang my birds and the different hanging devices I use to hang them in any pose. Then we will attach the tail and the wings. Finally we will sculpt their feet.
About the Instructor:
Sarah Conti is a ceramic sculptor who is passionate about ecology, conservation, social issues and sparking conversations about the intersection of these matters. Sarah is from western Washington, she received her BFA with a sculptural emphasis from University of Idaho. After undergrad she lived in Illinois for three years and was a resident artist at Terra Incognito ceramic studio. She then moved to Portland, Oregon and attended Oregon College of Art and Craft to receive her post baccalaureate in ceramics. She then completed a second ceramics post baccalaureate at the University of Montana. With a group of four other ceramicists, Sarah cofounded Wildfire Ceramic Studio in Missoula and ran the in-house gallery. Sarah now lives in Boise where she keeps busy working in her own studio, birdwatching, playing with her dogs, and gardening.
Required Materials:
- serrated rib
- xacto knife, fettling knife, rubber rib (I personally like the yellow one from mud tools), small 1/4" loop tool, larger 1/2"-1" loop tool, a couple wood tools for detailing, paintbrushes in variety of sizes.
Optional Materials:
- students could use a different claybody or bring a wider array of underglazes if they prefer. Clay should be medium grogginess and fired to cone 6.