This workshop will begin with a fifteen-minute figure studies sketching exercise. Capturing gesture and creating unity and flow, these exercises will help participants begin to construct the human figure from simple components and explore poses. We will discuss ideas such as contrapposto, groupings, and narrative. We will emphasize an experimental approach, manipulating your “first drafts” to discover movement, gesture and vitality. This will lead to demonstrations of building figures in clay in a variety of poses: reclining, seated, standing. Maquettes of figures and heads will be created. Michelle will work with each student on their individual artwork. Color and surface treatment will follow the construction process. Students will bring pieces of bisque ware to explore surface and color using a variety of techniques including underglazes, stains and pencils.