Sculpting a Female Portrait in Clay by Johanna Schwaiger

World-renowned sculptor Johanna Schwaiger brings her 20+ years of experience to this hands-on course on sculpting a female portrait from a live model. You’ll learn her specific method for building a portrait in water-based clay, focusing on the key landmarks of the skull and the practical use of various sculpting tools. This isn’t about theory; it’s about getting your hands dirty and following a clear, repeatable procedure.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Apply initial clay to establish the basic forms of the skull.
• Use a caliper and profile lines to ensure accurate proportions.
• Indicate facial features from multiple angles.
• Build and refine the width of the portrait.
• Work with specific wood and wire clay cutting tools.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic familiarity with sculpting tools and 3D form.
• Tools: Water-based clay, wood modeling tools, Tiranti modeling tools (B Series), caliper, wire clay cutting tool, 2″ x 2″ plank, 3/4″ thick plywood or melamine square, screws.
• Hardware: A sturdy work surface.

📝 Description

This course is a straight-to-the-point demonstration of a professional portrait sculpting workflow. Johanna doesn’t waste time on fluff. She starts by showing you exactly what materials she uses and why, then immediately moves into the clay application.

The core of the course is about building a solid foundation. You’ll learn how to establish the basic forms of the skull first, which is the critical step most beginners skip. From there, she shows you how to set a profile line and use it as a guide to place the features accurately on both sides of the head. The focus is on constant measurement and comparison, using tools like a caliper to keep everything in check. It’s a practical, methodical approach that removes the guesswork from portrait sculpture.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Sculptors who want to learn a structured, professional method for portrait work.
• Artists transitioning from 2D drawing to 3D sculpture.
• Students who want to focus on the foundational steps of building a portrait in clay.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Johanna Schwaiger is a world-renowned sculptor with over 20 years of experience teaching and producing figurative and portrait sculpture. She is known for her methodical approach and deep understanding of human anatomy, making complex sculpting techniques accessible to students at all levels.

🏁 Final Result

• A solidly constructed clay portrait bust with accurately placed features and a clear understanding of the underlying skull structure.